About this resource

Methodology, sourcing, and privacy

What this site is

Is It Coercive is an independent, sourced resource for people navigating coercive control — a pattern of behaviour, not a single incident, used to dominate and restrict another person’s free will and daily life. It brings together plain-language explanations, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction legal status, safety-first evidence guidance, and a directory of support services.

Not legal or clinical advice

Nothing on this site is legal, medical, or clinical advice. Laws, contact details, service hours, and eligibility criteria change, and how a specific law applies always depends on your facts and jurisdiction. Always confirm anything time-sensitive with the linked primary source or a qualified local professional before relying on it.

How this was built

Content is drawn from a sourced data dictionary compiling government legislation, court and prosecution guidance, peer-reviewed research, and established support organisations across intimate relationships, family and elder abuse, and high-control groups. Every factual claim on this site links to the primary source it came from — look for the citation links under each section.

Keeping legal information current

Legal information last verified 13 August 2026 · rechecked monthly

Coercive-control law is changing quickly across Australia’s states and territories — several jurisdictions have bills before parliament or laws passed but not yet in force. The legal status of every jurisdiction on this site is re-checked against primary sources on a recurring monthly basis, and this page’s “last verified” date will move forward each time a check runs. If you notice something that looks out of date, treat the official source link as authoritative over this page.

Privacy

This site does not use accounts, analytics, or tracking, and it keeps no record of your visit. Your device or browser may still keep its own history — consider using your browser’s private/incognito mode if you are concerned about local history.

Feedback and corrections

This is a living resource. If you find an error, an outdated law, or a service that no longer operates the way described, we want to know so it can be corrected as part of the next scheduled review.