YEAR 12 ATAR ENGLISH
Boy Swallows Universe
QUICK LINKS

Not freely available on the Internet
Freely available
INTRODUCTION
This page has been created to support Year 12 ATAR English students who are doing a novel study of Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton and is a starting point for those researching the issue of domestic violence.
Note: Some people may find the content in these pages confronting and/or distressing. If any content raises concerns for you please seek support from either our school psychologists or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Created by: Ms Bright | Last updated: March 2021
IT”S TIME TO ACT ON OUR WATCH
Our Watch is a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.
Our Watch. (2014, September 5). It’s time to act on Our Watch [Video]. https://youtu.be/tB7Pkcue9Rk
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA
A motion graphic about the current state of domestic violence within Australia.
MWIT Media. (2017, September 25). Domestic Violence In Australia [Video]. https://youtu.be/UVpCb6LBung
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (EBOOK)

REPORTS (ONLINE)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018). Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/d1a8d479-a39a-48c1-bbe2-4b27c7a321e0/aihw-fdv-02.pdf.aspx
Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health and welfare issue. It occurs across all ages, and all socioeconomic and demographic groups, but predominantly affects women and children. This report explores the latest data available to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. It brings together information from multiple sources on victims and perpetrators and on the causes, impacts and outcomes of violence.
Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women. (2018). Domestic and family violence and its relationship to child protection. https://www.cyjma.qld.gov.au/resources/childsafety/practice-manual/prac-paper-domestic-violence.pdf
Domestic and family violence is a significant social problem which has become the focus of increased community concern. Whether children experience violence themselves or witness this behaviour, this violence can have long-lasting impacts on children’s wellbeing and development.
Department of Communities, Government of Western Australia. (2020). Path to Safety: Western Australia’s Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence 2020 – 2030. https://www.communities.wa.gov.au/media/2766/fdv-strategy.pdf
A plan to provide a long-term vision for a Western Australia where all people live free from family and domestic violence. It sets out a clear whole-of-government and community plan for reducing and responding to family and domestic violence over the next decade.
Mission Australia. (2020). Out of the shadows. https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/domestic-and-family-violence
No one should be forced to stay in a violent home to keep a roof over their child’s head. Our new report, Out of the Shadows, explores the shocking reality that domestic and family violence is a leading cause of homelessness in Australia.
NEWS & MAGAZINE ARTICLES (ONLINE)
Chenery, S. (2019, February 19). Women in prison: ‘It took six months of anguish to get my child’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/24/women-in-prison-it-took-six-months-of-anguish-to-get-my-child
Domestic violence directly or indirectly is a major cause of women being incarcerated.
Domestic violence: a mother’s story. (2016). Good Health (Australia Edition), 64–67.
The article focuses on the story of three mothers about domestic violence experienced by their daughters. Click through to pages 64-67 to read.
Fitz-Gibbon, K., & Segrave, M. (2021, March 1). A woman is still being killed each week in Australia. We need federal leadership. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/01/a-woman-is-still-being-killed-each-week-in-australia-we-need-federal-leadership
Is it that the government has accepted that violence against women is an inevitable part of Australia’s way of life?
Hartwig, A. (2017, March 31). Every man must take a stand against domestic and family violence. Perth Now. https://www.perthnow.com.au/opinion/angela-hartwig-every-man-must-take-a-stand-against-domestic-and-family-violence-ng-de5e8bf727c10bcc3c8d3313df28e405
Domestic and family violence is a serious issue with at least one woman being killed by a current or former partner each week in Australia.
Hughes, K. (2020, November 7). Domestic violence victims like Ashlea are increasingly turning to online support groups. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-07/domestic-violence-victims-seek-help-in-online-support-groups/12851434
Ashlea is one of thousands of members of an informal but closed online community of domestic violence victims, and has never before spoken publicly about the abuse she suffered.
Marciniak, C. (2020, February 24). How Australia’s domestic violence issue is inseparable from our ‘corrosive’ masculinity culture. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-24/domestic-violence-and-issue-of-male-fragility-explored-in-art/11992600?nw=0
“The way that we do masculinity is not doing men any favours,” Luke Addinsall said. “It’s corrosive, and it’s counterintuitive, even to men.” Mr Addinsall is the manager of the Men and Family Centre in Lismore which, in 2019, received grants under the New South Wales Government $20-million Domestic Violence Innovation Fund for their Men’s Accountability Project.
Purcell, R., & Ogloff, J. (2014, August 10). Family violence response must tackle all forms of abuse. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/family-violence-response-must-tackle-all-forms-of-abuse-29267
The term “domestic violence” typically conjures images of physical assaults perpetrated by men against women and children in the home. But beneath the tip of the iceberg of severe violence lie a myriad of other damaging behaviours, including psychological and financial abuse, and emotional manipulation.
WEBSITES
1800Respect. (2020). Domestic and family violence. https://www.1800respect.org.au/violence-and-abuse/domestic-and-family-violence
1800RESPECT is the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
Australian Government. (n.d.). National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. https://plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au/
The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and released in February 2011.
Australian Government. (2021). Respect. https://www.respect.gov.au/
It’s important we understand the cycle of violence. Not all disrespect towards women results in violence. But all violence against women starts with disrespectful behaviour.
Communities and Justice, NSW Government. (2019, October 21). The effects of domestic and family violence on children and young people. https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/domestic-violence/about/effects-of-dv-on-children
When people think of domestic and family violence, they often think of how much it hurts the adult victim. It’s true that domestic and family violence is most often violent, abusive or intimidating behaviour by a man towards a woman. But what you may not realise is that children also experience domestic violence and this affects their physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria. (n.d.). Partners in prevention. https://www.partnersinprevention.org.au/
Partners in Prevention (PiP) is a network of practitioners working across Victoria to prevent violence against women. PiP supports prevention practitioners to hone their practice skills, connect with one another and strengthen their knowledge of the evidence base around respectful relationships education and the primary prevention of violence against women.
Mission Australia. (2020). Domestic and family violence. https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/domestic-and-family-violence
Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, but domestic and family violence affects more people than we think. Mission Australia’s services assist people at risk through safety planning, provision of emergency accommodation, advocacy and access to various legal and social welfare networks. In this website find information, statistics, personal stories and support services.
White Ribbon Australia. (2021). https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
White Ribbon Australia is a part of a global social movement working to eliminate gendered violence. We strive for an Australian society where all women and children are safe.
COREY WHITE’S ROADMAP TO PARADISE, S1, E4 – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Having experienced domestic violence as a child, Corey looks at the problematic way that we approach solving this complex issue. Using his own experience, he investigates how to break the cycle of victims becoming offenders.
Perry, M. (Director). Cory White’s roadmap to paradise: Domestic violence [Video]. ClickView.
WHAT ABOUT US? (VIDEO)
A look at violence against women from the perspective of kids.
womenscrisisSWR. (2013, November 18). What About Us? Perspectives of the children of domestic violence [Video]. https://youtu.be/eWK_xebLgbk
THE DRUM – FAMILY VIOLENCE SPECIAL (VIDEO)
In a special episode the panel discusses the issue of domestic violence, why men are the main perpetrators, the difficulties prosecuting in a convoluted court system and what interventions are working to reduce violence. View via ClickView below, or on the ABC website.
ABC. (2019). The Drum: Family violence special [Video]. ClickView.
60 MINUTES (VIDEO)
Brave Sam’s message to child victims of family violence
Sam was 8 years old when Darren Hanegraaf, a Victoria Police officer, entered his life as a stepdad. When he was 11 years old, he heard a police officer describe his stepdad as a ‘dangerous man’. Now in an extended interview with reporter Nick McKenzie, Sam has turned his pain into passion and wants to make sure other children like him are treated like real victims of family violence.
60 minutes Australia. (2020, December 8). Brave Sam’s message to child victims of family violence [Video]. https://youtu.be/Huofja8HEGI
IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP HEALTHY? (VIDEO)
Most couple have fights, but sometimes there’s something a lot more serious is going on. In this video, Lucie talks about the difference between a healthy relationship and unhealthy one.
Rosie. (2015, July 30). Is Your Relationship Healthy? [Video]. https://youtu.be/LiqyoO9TEZQ
LET”S CHANGE THE STORY (VIDEO)
Australia has a choice. We can change the story that currently sees a woman murdered every week by a current or former partner. We can choose a future where women and their children live free from violence
Our Watch. (2017, March 30). Let’s change the story: Violence against women in Australia [Video]. https://youtu.be/fLUVWZvVZXw

