Research report, no. 15, 2007
Allegations of family violence and child abuse in family law children's proceedings: a pre-reform exploratory study

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Appendix B: Coding frame for the three-category typology of family violence and child abuse176

Category A

Category B

Category C

No category 2 or 3 allegations made

The following features are present:

  • No injuries noted
  • Outcomes not specified or outcomes confined to emotional upset and/or estrangement

No category 3 allegations made. All allegations had one of more of the following features:

  • Any action, whether or not specifically reported, that resulted in a bruise, scratch or minor cut not requiring stitches
  • Kicking or use of an object other than a weapon3 (i.e. throwing an object, hitting with an object) resulting in no reported injury or a "low level" injury, such as a bruise or scratch
  • Threat to hit with an object
  • Intervention order noted
  • Stalking

One or more of the following present:

  • Significant fear for one's life or life of other family member(s) or individuals associated with the family
  • Any injury other than a scratch, bruise or minor cut not requiring stitches
  • Any injury that resulted in miscarriage, or injury to an unborn child
  • Use of or threat to use a weapon
  • Beating or threat to beat
  • Choking or threat to choke
  • Burning or threat to burn
  • Hitting with a fist or threatening to hit with a fist
  • Sexual assault or threat to sexually assault
  • Child abduction or threat of child abduction

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176 Based on categorisation of formal allegations made specifically in the context of proceedings in the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court (by case).