Reproductive coercion and abuse: supporting the legal assistance sector to understand and respond

South-East Monash Legal Service (SMLS), in collaboration with The University of Melbourne, has undertaken pioneering research to bolster the Victorian legal sector's capacity to comprehend and address reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA). RCA encompasses behaviours that infringe upon individuals' reproductive autonomy, such as pregnancy coercion, birth control sabotage, and controlling pregnancy outcomes. ​
This initiative aims to enhance the ability of community legal centres to effectively recognise and respond to RCA cases. The project involves a comprehensive review of existing literature, case law, and training materials, supplemented by insights from focus groups comprising community legal practitioners. The ultimate goal is to develop specialised training and resources tailored for legal professionals, particularly in areas like family law, family violence, immigration, and sexual violence. ​
By equipping legal practitioners with the necessary knowledge and tools, this research endeavours to create a legal assistance framework where victim-survivors are empowered, and legal responses are attuned to the complexities of behaviours in family violence situations. This approach seeks to foster a more compassionate and effective response to RCA within the community legal sector.