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MEDIA RELEASE

30 September 2025

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS TASMANIAN SYSTEMS ENABLE ABUSIVE PRACTICES

New research launched today by a Tasmanian specialist family violence service, Engender Equality, has found at least one form of systems abuse has been experienced by 75% of those engaging in family violence counselling. 

The report launched today – Systems abuse and family violence in Tasmania: Evidence and recommendations for action – proposes a framework for deeper understanding of the ways systems themselves enable or enact abusive practices that negatively impact on victim-survivors.  

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said, 

“No one would agree that being re-traumatised by systems that are meant to serve the public, including victim-survivors is acceptable, yet on average, each victim-survivor experiences 3.44 incidents of organisational systems abuse.” 

“Half of all victim-survivors experienced systems abuse in relation to Tasmania Police (50%) and family law proceedings in Tasmania (49%).  

“Our analysis shows that systems abuse is also regularly experienced by victim-survivors across non-legal service systems,” Ms Thomas said. 

Victims-survivors experienced system abuse through public and private housing (27%), primary care providers (19%), child safety (16%), mental health providers (12%), church or religious groups (9%), and education providers (8%).  

Traditionally, systems abuse is generally defined by focusing on the perpetrator’s manipulation of systems, such as the legal system, to exert control over, threaten, and/or harass a current or former partner. Perpetrators might, for example, use systems to deplete the victim’s finances, emotional wellbeing and affect her capacity to care for children or work.    

Organisational systems abuse, including people in power in these organisations, replicates the abuse of power and discrimination against victim-survivors. It is reflected in practices and attitudes that are discriminatory based on gender, financial impost, administrative requirements, time and mental load and emotional wellbeing.  

Engender Equality Peer Worker, Ms Whaling said,  

“I have been told in the court room, by financial institutions, and in prison, that the abuse did not happen. That I was an instigator. Those words came from people who were supposed to help… who knew what the perpetrator did to me, and how deeply it impacted me and my child.”  

Lived experience coordinator, Sneha Sapkota explains, 

“When a woman seeks help, she brings with her the trauma of abuse and the hope of being heard.  

“The systems she encounters, through design, culture, and policies, either opens a door or builds another wall. 

“Whether that space becomes protective or punishing depends on the service provider/practitioner’s ability to see beyond the surface and respond with both skill and humanity. 

“These are structural and organisational processes and cultural attitudes that fail to recognise and respond to family violence, putting barriers in place instead; consequently enabling the views, values and beliefs of the perpetrator”, Ms Sapkota said. 

The report’s recommendations are intended to identify and redress the organisational systemic elements that enable and enact systems abuse, in line with the Tasmanian Government’s Survivors at the centre: Tasmania’s Third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan 2022-2027. 

Ends. 

Additional Information 

A copy of the report can be obtained at Systems abuse and family violence in Tasmania: Evidence and recommendations for action, August 2025 – Engender Equality 

Media opportunities will follow the launch that will be held: 

Date: Tuesday, 30 Sept 2025  

Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm  

Location: Mayor’s Suite, Town Hall   

If you would like to engage a lived experience representative (case study), please see Advocates for Change – Engender Equality, email advocates@engenderequality.org.au or phone: 0415 740 524. 

Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291 

Please find below – short overviews offered by Lived Experience Advocates on experiences of how systems have replicated power and control dynamics and how systems themselves are experienced as abusive by victim-survivors. Each of these people are available to talk to the media. 

Deb H 

“My ex exploited the social security system, and his employer colluded with him. My Sole Parent Benefit was being docked, as incentive for chasing up child support. I was being docked, the amount he should have been paying in child support, deducted from his wage, even though he was not paying anything. Once he was forced to start paying, he had to pay arrears but not having rent assistance, my situation was very dire, as I was paying mortgage, therefore, my social security payment was much less than for a sole parent renting. I struggled. I had to go to legal aid and get solicitor onto it before he started paying.” 

Chantel  

“Centrelink - When you move from a partnered to single parent, Centrelink asks for a lot of evidence, for e.g., third party statements. If a victim-survivor has no friends or people willing to be contacted, they cannot supply this statement. It becomes one more bureaucratic hurdle to jump when you are in crisis. 

Child Support - Makes a victim-survivor stay connected to the abuser. Even when the abuser doesn’t pay, they can get away with it. 

GP - I was forced to use the same GP as my perpetrator and was not allowed to see female doctors. 

Loans/Payments - I split a loan to buy a car. My perpetrator only put his name on the car, but on the loan agreement had both of our names. I have to pay the loan back because I would get blacklisted otherwise.” 

Bec 

“The Child Support System is facilitation of abuse. In my case, my daughter has been withheld against me. He benefits financially. There was an issue and tax benefits occurred as debt in child support. My tax return was withheld from me and given to my ex. The child support worker advised to stop working as it’s the only way to stop the abuse. 

I never received child support from him all the years as he would say if I went through with it, i would get no help and I can just get $30 a month as he was on Centrelink.” 

Tracey  

“Child Support - stated he made 10k while taking 3 overseas holidays.  

Centrelink - payments affected due to how much he SHOULD pay.  

And the fact that so much child support was owed, it effected my borrowing capacity with banks.”