Domestic violence is a major factor contributing to homelessness
in Australia, particularly for women, reveals a new report from the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Female SAAP clients and children escaping
domestic and family violence 2003-04, says that in 2003-04,
approximately 33% or 32,700 of the 100,200 clients accessing the
Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) were women
escaping domestic violence.
Of the 52,700 accompanying children accessing the SAAP, 66% or
34,700 were children accompanying women escaping domestic
violence.
Justin Griffin, Head of the AIHW's Supported Accommodation and
Crisis Services Unit, said, 'These numbers show that the SAAP is an
important program for many thousands of women and children in
Australia.'
The report showed that children in the domestic violence group
were significantly more likely to have their requests for health,
medical services and behavioural problems met than children
accompanying other SAAP clients.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children are
over-represented in the SAAP female domestic violence group.
'Indigenous women make up 2% of the female Australian population
but 24% of the female SAAP clients escaping domestic violence in
2003-04,' Mr Griffin said.
In general, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the
SAAP domestic violence group tended to have shorter and more
frequent support periods than women from other cultural groups - an
average of 1.8 support periods averaging 26 days, compared to an
average of 1.5 support periods ranging from 58 to 79 days for other
cultural groups.
The average daily turn-away rate for agencies targeted at women
escaping domestic violence was 48%. This equates to about one in
two women unable to be accommodated at this type of agency. The
turn-away rate for SAAP agencies overall was 52%.
'Although only slightly more than half of the women seeking SAAP
accommodation from domestic violence agencies were able to be
immediately accommodated, domestic violence agencies were, by
comparison, able to meet urgent requests for accommodation more
often than agencies for families, young people, single women and
cross-target or general agencies,' Mr Griffin stated.
After receiving support, the proportion of women who reported
living alone with children increased, compared to those living
alone prior to receiving support, which suggests that SAAP services
are able to contribute in several ways to the ability of women and
children to leave violent living situations.
28 September 2005
Further information: Justin Griffin tel. 02
6244 1206 or 0419 239 581
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Female SAAP clients and
children escaping domestic and family violence 2003-04