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Family, domestic and sexual violence Home
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Intimate partner violence experienced by women
The rate decreased between 2016 and 2021–22.
Intimate partners can be current or former cohabiting partners, boyfriends, girlfriends or dates.
Violence refers to physical and/or sexual violence.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety, Australia 2021–22
Proportion of women who experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
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Partner violence experienced by women
The rate decreased between 2016 and 2021–22.
Partner refers to a partner the person lives with (current partner), or lived with at some point (previous partner) in a married or de facto relationship.
Violence refers to physical and/or sexual violence.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety, Australia 2021–22
Proportion of women who experienced violence from a partner in the last 12 months
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
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Partner emotional abuse
The rate decreased between 2016 and 2021–22 for women and men.
Partner refers to a partner the person lives with (current partner), or lived with at some point (previous partner) in a married or de facto relationship.
Emotional abuse refers to behaviours or actions that are aimed at preventing or controlling a person’s behaviour, or causing them emotional harm or fear.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety, Australia 2021–22
Proportion who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 12 months
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
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Sexual violence experienced by women
The rate was stable between 2016 and 2021–22.
Sexual violence includes sexual assault or threat.Proportion of women who experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
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Sexual harassment
The rate decreased between 2016 and 2021–22 for women and men.
Sexual harassment occurs when a person has experienced behaviours that made them feel uncomfortable and/or were offensive due to their sexual nature.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety, Australia 2021–22
Proportion who experienced sexual harassment in the last 12 months
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
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Intimate partner homicide
Rates of intimate partner homicide fell between 1989–90 and 2022–23, with some fluctuations year on year.
Intimate partner homicide is where a victim had a current or previous intimate partner relationship with the primary offender.
This measure relates to a target under the National Plan Outcomes Framework.Source: Australian Institute of Criminology National Homicide Monitoring Program
Rates of intimate partner homicide
*: calculated rate is based on fewer than 20 events in the numerator and may be unstable.
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Community understanding of violence against women
There has been an increase in the level of understanding of violence against women.
This is measured by the Understanding of Violence against Women Scale of the NCAS. A higher mean score on the Understanding of Violence against Women Scale indicates a higher level of understanding of violence against women and is desirable.
This measure relates to a target under the National Plan Outcomes Framework.Mean score on the Understanding of Violence against Women Scale
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021 mean score.
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Community attitudes towards violence against women
There has been a positive shift in community attitudes that reject violence against women.
This is measured by the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale of the NCAS. On this scale a higher score is seen as desirable because it reflects higher rejection of problematic attitudes.
This measure relates to a target under the National Plan Outcomes Framework.
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021 mean score.
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Community attitudes towards gender inequality
There has been a positive shift in community attitudes that reject gender inequality.
This is measured by the Attitudes towards Gender Inequality Scale of the NCAS. On this scale a higher score is seen as desirable because it reflects higher rejection of problematic attitudes.
This measure relates to a target under the National Plan Outcomes Framework.Mean score on the Attitudes towards Gender Inequality Scale
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021 mean score.
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Community attitudes towards sexual violence
There has been a positive shift in community attitudes that reject sexual violence.
This is measured by the Sexual Violence Scale of the NCAS. On this scale a higher score is seen as desirable because it reflects higher rejection of problematic attitudes.
This measure relates to a target under the National Plan Outcomes Framework.
Mean score on the Sexual Violence Scale
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021 mean score.