CAS
Healthy Relationships
Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in their relationships.
Violence and abuse are never okay. They are forms of domestic, family or sexual violence.
- If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family and sexual violence, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit our website for online chat and video call services - available 24/7.
Respect and safety
Healthy relationships are important. They remind us that we are valued and allow us to share the joys and challenges of life with others.
In all your relationships you should feel respected and safe. This includes relationships with:
- Boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives and/or partners
- Ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends, ex-partners, ex-husbands, and/or ex-wives
- Family relationships with partners, guardians or chosen family members
- Parent-child relationships. Including adult children, younger children or teenagers
- Caregiving relationships. Including support workers or those who provide care
- People you work with including colleagues, or managers
- Other people you live with or see often.
It’s not healthy if people control you or cause you to live in fear.
Repeated behaviour that makes you feel unsafe can be a sign of an abusive relationship.
Signs of a healthy relationship
Healthy relationships should bring more joy than stress. You should never feel scared or like you can’t talk.
In a healthy relationship, you can:
- Speak openly and be listened to
- Be treated as an equal person
- Make your own choices about all aspects of your life
- Spend time with friends and family when you want to
- Practise your culture, religion or spirituality
- Feel safe to say no
- Handle disagreements with respect
- Grow as a person and have your own interests.
Abuse is never okay. If someone controls, scares or harms you, it is a form domestic, family or sexual violence.
Support is free, confidential and available 24/7.
Respect means:
- Celebrating each other’s achievements
- Apologising when you're wrong
- Respecting each other's privacy
- Not feeling pressured or controlled.
Warning signs of an unhealthy relationship
It’s normal to not always agree with each other in your relationships. However, violence and abuse are not okay. Abuse is a pattern of behaviour that makes you feel unsafe, scared or controlled.
A relationship may be unhealthy if the other person:
- Tries to control you
- Pressures or scares you
- Hurts you on purpose
- Monitors your phone or location without consent
- Tries to cuts you off from your friends or family
- Makes you question yourself
- Dismisses your feelings
- Shows extreme jealousy or brings you down.
You may also see changes in yourself including:
- Self-doubt or second-guessing yourself
- Feeling like you’re walking on eggshells
- Hiding the truth from people who care about you
- Apologising when it’s not your fault
- Losing your sense of identity
- Standing up for yourself against lies.
If you think your relationship might be unhealthy, support is available. You can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit our website for online chat and video call services - available 24/7.
