This report explores the 2020 findings of a national Australian survey with 442 frontline DV practitioners about the use of technology by perpetrators. It is a follow-up survey to the 2015 ReCharge study, conducted by DVRCV, Women’s Legal Services NSW, and WESNET to investigate technology-facilitated abuse in Australia (Woodlock, 2015).

The 2020 findings show that practitioners and women carry a significant burden in responding to and preventing perpetrators’ abuse of technology. Practitioners noted that the use of technology is increasing in magnitude and is often felt as all-encompassing for victim-survivors. In their experience, women are entrapped by the perpetrator’s use of technology, with some women returning to their abuser because they felt they could not escape his control. Respondents felt this intensified during the first wave of COVID-19 in Australia (the survey was opened from 6 May to 31 August, 2020). (From the Executive summary). The 2015 report can be accessed from the website. Record #7068