Health services

Health services play an important role in responding to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) (Garcia-Moreno et al. 2015). The 2021–22 ABS Personal Safety Survey (PSS) estimated that 1 in 5 women who experienced violence from a current partner sought advice or support from a general practitioner or other health professional (ABS 2023) (see How do people respond to FDSV?). It is also estimated that a full-time GP sees around five women per week who have experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months, representing an opportunity for early intervention and ongoing support (Roberts et al. 2006, as cited in RACGP 2022).

FDV also involves financial costs at the health system and individual level. The health system cost associated with treating the effects of any violence against women was estimated to be at least $1.4 billion in 2015–16 (KPMG 2016). See Economic and financial impacts for more information.

Examination of data on health service responses related to FDSV can provide insight on the use of different services, the extent and nature of violence experienced, and opportunities for intervention.

What do we know?

Australia’s health services include a complex mix of service providers and health professionals that collectively work to meet the health care needs of people in Australia. These services can assist victim-survivors and/or perpetrators of violence in a range of ways (Box 1).

Measuring health service use for FDSV

While each health service response has an important and different role to play, national service-level data on responses to FDSV are limited. Hospital records related to episodes of admitted care (hospitalisations) are the main nationally comparable data available, although some data related to FDSV responses in other health services are available in some states and territories. For this reason, national hospitalisation data from the AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database are a focus of this topic page (for more information about this data source, please see Data sources and technical notes). However, information about other health services, such as primary care, including antenatal care, and ambulance services, are also discussed in the context of data development opportunities.

Even where service-level data related to FDSV are available, it is important to note that these data will not represent the complete picture as people may not always seek assistance, or when they do, they can be reluctant to disclose information related to violence involving a family member, or intimate partner. Additionally, personal accounts from service workers indicate a lack of resources and education may prevent adequate identification, treatment and documentation of victim-survivors engaging with health services (Cullen et al. 2022).

What do the data tell us?

Hospitalisations

Some people who experience family and domestic violence (FDV) are admitted to hospital for treatment and care. The AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database captures the number of cases admitted to hospital with an injury or other condition, in which an assault related to FDV is documented. Examining the number of hospitalisations involving treatment for FDV assault provides an indication of the demand for these services. However, these data do not include presentations to emergency departments and will relate to more severe (and mostly physical) experiences of FDV (AIHW 2019; AIHW 2022a).

In 2023–24, of hospitalisations that involved treatment for assault and a perpetrator was specified, half (50% or 9,300) were due to FDV (‘FDV hospitalisations’). The rate of FDV hospitalisations was 35 per 100,000 people. The rate of hospitalisations for females (52 per 100,000 females) was 3.1 times as high as males (17 per 100,000 males) (AIHW 2025).

Figure 1 shows that among all FDV hospitalisations, the number and rate was higher for females than males across all age groups, except for 0–14 where they were similar.  

Rates of FDV hospitalisations of females:

• Increased with age until 25–34 (100 per 100,000). 
• Decreased with age from 35–44 (97 per 100,000) to 15.4 per 100,000 aged 65 and over (Figure 1).

Most (88%) hospitalisations involving treatment for assault by a spouse or domestic partner were for females. The rate of hospitalisations where the perpetrator was a spouse or domestic partner was 7.3 times as high for females (37 per 100,000) as males (5.1 per 100,000) (AIHW 2025).

Figure 1: FDV hospitalisations by relationship to perpetrator, sex and age, 2023–24

In 2023–24, for males aged 15 years and over, the majority (60%, or 1,200) of FDV hospitalisations required treatment for assault by a family member other than their spouse or domestic partner or parent (Figure 1). 

Rates of FDV hospitalisations of males with a spouse or domestic partner specified as the perpetrator:

• increased with age until 35–44 (10 per 100,000) 
• decreased with age from 45–54 to 3.4 per 100,000 for males aged 65 or older (Figure 1). 

Principal diagnosis

‘Principal diagnosis’ refers to the main reason a person was admitted to hospital. Among all FDV hospitalisations, the most common principal diagnosis was ‘Injuries to the head’ (40%), followed by ‘Injuries to the thorax’ (6.3%) (Table 1; AIHW 2025). Injuries to the head were the most common principal diagnosis among both males and females (39% and 41%, respectively). ‘Mental and behavioural disorders’ was among the 5 most common principal diagnoses for both males and females, indicating that some people hospitalised for treatment for mental illness are also being treated for FDV.

Hospitalisations over time

While examining hospitalisations over time can help to understand patterns of FDV hospitalisation cases, it does not represent the broader prevalence of FDV across the population in Australia. Changes in hospitalisation rates may be due to changes in disclosure rates, changes in identification or recording of family and domestic violence by health professionals, and/or changes in family and domestic violence events requiring hospitalisation (AIHW 2022a).

Between 2019–20 and 2023–24, the rate of FDV hospitalisations remained relatively stable for females and males, with slight decreases recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure 2).

For data relating to FDV-related injury hospitalisations during the COVID-19 pandemic, see FDSV and COVID-19. Please note, those findings are not comparable with findings reported here as the FDSV and COVID-19 topic only includes hospitalisations with primary diagnoses of injury or poisoning.

Figure 2: FDV hospitalisations, by sex, 2019–20 to 2023–24

Since 2019–20, rates of FDV hospitalisations where the perpetrator was a spouse or domestic partner were consistently around 7 times higher for females aged 15 years and over than for males. Rates of FDV hospitalisations were generally similar between males and females aged 15 and over where the perpetrator was a parent or other family member (excludes spouse or domestic partner) (Figure 3).

Figure 3: FDV hospitalisations, by relationship to perpetrator, 2019–20 to 2023–24

Is it the same for everyone?

Select population groups may be exposed to intersecting and unique challenges that impact rates of FDV hospitalisations. Investigating the prevalence of FDV in specific areas can be used to inform the development of more targeted and needs-based programs and services.

In 2023–24, rates of FDV hospitalisations:

• were highest for those living in the Northern Territory
• generally increased with remoteness
• were highest for those in the lowest socioeconomic area compared with all other socioeconomic areas (Figure 4).

Figure 4: FDV hospitalisations for select geographic areas, 2023–24

Rates of FDV hospitalisations were also higher for First Nations people than non-Indigenous people. See Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

For more information on specific groups see Population groups.

What else do we know about hospitalisations?

Hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault

In 2023–24, there were about 880 hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault (any perpetrator type). Among hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault:

• The vast majority were for females (92% or 810). 
• Half (51%) were for people aged 25–34 (26%) or 35–44 (24%) (AIHW 2025).

Of the 880 hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault, the most common perpetrator was an 'Unspecified person' (28% or 245). Where a perpetrator was specified (around 603), the most common perpetrator of sexual assaults:

• among females was a 'Spouse or domestic partner' (33%) 
• among males was 'Person(s) unknown to the victim' (38%) (AIHW 2025). 

The most common perpetrators varied by age group. Among specified perpetrators of sexual assault, the most common perpetrator for people aged:

• 0–14 was 'Other family member' (excludes parent) (29%)
• 15–19, 20–24, and 55–64 was 'Carer or acquaintance' (44%, 33% and 47%, respectively)
• 25–34, 35–44 and 45–54 was 'Spouse or domestic partner' (35%, 39% and 39%, respectively) 
• 65+ was 'Carer or acquaintance' and 'Other specified person, including official authorities' (33% each) (AIHW 2025).

Between 2019–20 and 2023–24, the number of hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault steadily increased from 630 to 880. In this period the rate:

• Slightly increased for females from 4.5 per 100,000 population in 2019–20 to 6.0 in 2023–24. 
• Was relatively stable for males, ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 per 100,000 population. 
• Was highest for people aged 15–19 and 20–24 each year, with the highest rate reported for people aged 20–24 in 2023–24 (7.9 per 100,000 population) (Figure 5; AIHW 2025). 

Over this period, at least 9 in 10 (90%) hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault were for females (AIHW 2025).

Principal diagnosis

A principal diagnosis refers to the main reason a person was admitted to hospital. Among hospitalisations involving treatment for sexual assault:

• 1 in 4 (25%) were for ‘Examination and observation for other reasons’ which includes ‘Examination and observation following alleged rape and seduction’ (Z04.4).
• 1 in 7 (14%) were for ‘Injuries to abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine and pelvis’.
• 1 in 8 (13%) were for ‘Mental and behavioural disorders’ (Table 2; AIHW 2025).

These data do not include any hospital activity in the emergency department or hospital outpatient units.

Analysis using linked data

The AIHW report, Examination of hospital stays due to family and domestic violence 2010–11 to 2018–19 used linked data in the National Integrated Health Service Information Analysis Asset (NIHSI AA) to provide novel analysis of person-level, rather than episode-level data. In addition to providing hospital stay information at the person- level, through the use of linked records, the report also provided insight into emergency department presentations and subsequent deaths among the FDV cohort.

For the linkage report, an FDV hospital stay was defined as any hospital stay where FDV was identified anywhere within the record – that is, including information within additional diagnoses, and not limited to principal diagnosis information. A hospital stay within the report also refers to a continuous episode of care, which can include several hospitalisations.

The number of people who had an FDV hospital stay increased over time

The number of people who had their ‘first’ (first identified in the data) FDV hospital stay between 2010–11 and 2017–18 steadily increased each year, and was 32% higher in 2017–18 compared with 2010–11. However, some people may have had their first stay prior to this period. The total number of FDV hospital stays that occurred each year also increased over the same time period (up 50% by 2017–18) (AIHW 2021).

The increase in ‘first’ FDV hospital stays, and the increase in FDV hospital stays overall may be due to:

• increased disclosure of FDV in hospitals (as a result of increased awareness and/or changes in attitudes), and/or
• increased identification and recording of FDV by health professionals (for example, through screening tools and/or increased training and awareness), and/or
• increased FDV-related events requiring hospitalisation (AIHW 2021).

Hospital data shows a proportional decrease in ‘other’ assaults (that is, assaults where no perpetrator was specified) over the analysis period. This suggests that ‘other’ assaults may have proportionally decreased due to increased identification of FDV assault (that is, an increase in identification of an FDV defined perpetrator) (AIHW 2019; AIHW 2021).

More than 1 in 10 people with an FDV hospital stay had been admitted 2 or more times

Of the people who had at least one FDV hospital stay from 2010–11 to 2017–18:

• 88% had one FDV hospital stay
• 9% had 2 FDV hospital stays
• 3% experienced 3 or more hospital stays for FDV in the time to 2018–19 (AIHW 2021).

These results remain consistent when looking at a 3-year follow-up period; 89% had one FDV hospital stay, 8% had 2, and 2% experienced 3 or more. The most common timeframe between FDV hospital stays for those that had multiple FDV hospital stays, was less than 1 year (62%), followed by 1–2 years (16%). People with 3 or more FDV stays were the most likely to have had 10 or more ED presentations (53%). From the national data, it cannot be determined whether these presentations were FDV-related (AIHW 2021).

Another AIHW report, Health service use among young people hospitalised due to family and domestic violence, used linked data to examine how children and young people who have experienced FDV interact with the health care system. Further details are provided in Children and young people.

For more information on long-term impacts of FDSV see Health outcomes.

Other health services and national development opportunities

National data from health services are essential for understanding the extent, nature and impact of family, domestic and sexual violence. The importance of building a nationally consistent and robust data framework was emphasised in the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2022–2032 and the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence (the Inquiry). The Australian Government supported in-principle, the Inquiry’s recommendation that a ‘data collection on service-system contacts with victim-survivors and perpetrators, including data from primary care, ambulance, emergency department, police, justice and legal services’ be developed, in recognition of the important role of the health system response. A strong evidence base is essential to support and inform policy makers, service providers and government programs that address FDSV (AIHW 2022b, DSS 2023). The AIHW is developing a FDSV integrated data system, which can form the basis for further expansion and development. However, the true value of this system will only be realised when consistent data on FDSV specialist services are available nationally. For more see Family, domestic and sexual violence: National data landscape 2022.

Primary health care

Primary health care, that can include general practitioners, nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers and allied health professionals, may provide a formal point of contact and care for people experiencing FDSV. As general practitioners are often a person’s first point of contact for health care, they are particularly well-placed to identify, support and refer people experiencing intimate partner violence (RACGP 2022).

The primary health care sector is rich in clinical data and information to support the management of individuals’ health care, however, the availability of data for national population research is limited. Specifically, there is no consistent collection of national data to understand how people use primary care, the conditions managed, health and wellbeing outcomes, and links between other services, such as hospitals or community services. Data are collected through a range of different mechanisms across jurisdictions, primary health networks (PHNs) and services, but not in a uniform and consistent way (AIHW 2022b).

Currently, if information is recorded on FDSV, it is usually recorded in free text fields, in a non-standardised way. Therefore, analysis of free text, using complex computing techniques, provides the most likely opportunity to identify FDSV in primary care. For example, an algorithm has been developed to identify women with indications of domestic violence and abuse, see Baseline cohort data from HARMONY, a cluster randomised controlled trial of culturally safe domestic violence management in general practice. Similar strategies could possibly be applied to other service data, such as emergency departments, to help identify the prevalence of FDSV among service users.

Administrative by-product data collected by the Australian Government in relation to Medicare Benefits Schedule claims is used to report on some primary care activity related to specific areas, such as mental health. However, there are currently no specific claims items under the MBS which could be used to identify activity related to FDSV (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs 2021).

There are some national programs focused on primary health care providers under development. For example, the Australian Government has provided funding for an expansion and extension of the Recognise, Respond and Refer pilot program. This trial aims to improve system responses to FDSV, by recognising the key role primary health care plays within the broader system response to FDSV. The program is being trialled in select Primary Health Networks and provides opportunities to consider the scope and nature of data collected in primary care (TCA 2022).

Additionally, the AIHW is leading the establishment of a National Primary Health Care Data Collection. The work program to achieve this encompasses the development of processes for governance, standards, infrastructure, collection, analysis and reporting of primary health care data within Australia. In the longer term, this work may provide an opportunity to capture FDSV in a standardised way to inform national reporting and monitoring related to FDSV (AIHW 2020b).

Perinatal care

Pregnancy can represent a time of increased risk of exposure to violence for both mothers and babies. Many pregnant people have regular contact with health-care professionals during pregnancy, which presents an opportunity to identify and respond to violence (see Pregnant people).

Screening for FDV during pregnancy occurs in most states and territories, however, a variety of FDV screening approaches are used (AIHW 2015). In 2020, a voluntary family violence screening question (which is defined as including "Violence between family members as well as between current or former intimate partners") was introduced into the National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC) to identify whether screening for FDV was conducted. Due to the time lag between development, implementation and collection of data by the state and territory perinatal data collections and their inclusion in the NPDC, data are not yet available for reporting (AIHW 2023). See also the National Perinatal Data Collection data availability resource.

The AIHW is working with the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and states and territories to develop the Perinatal Mental Health pilot data collection. This novel data collection will contain data from antenatal and postnatal perinatal mental health screening conducted in participating public maternity hospitals and maternal and child family health clinics; and some of the screening tools included in the pilot cover data on FDSV risk. Analysis of the pilot data will inform decisions about the appropriateness and feasibility of capturing this information on an ongoing basis (AIHW 2022b). Family violence risk factor screening data from New South Wales public health services were included for the first time in the report Perinatal mental health screening in Australia (AIHW 2024; Box 3).

See also Pregnant people. 

Emergency departments

Emergency departments (ED) are a critical point of contact for people who require urgent medical attention. In addition to providing immediate medical treatment, EDs also provide resources and additional services to people experiencing FDSV. Understanding how victim-survivors interact with EDs helps inform policy, resourcing and adequate training to staff effectively manage FDSV-related presentations.

The national emergency department (ED) data collection does not currently capture information on presentations related to family or domestic violence related injuries. Unlike for patients admitted to hospitals, the national ED data contains very little information about the context in which injuries occur (that, is the ‘external cause’). While the nature of the injury (for example, a fracture) is captured, information about the cause of the injury (for example, assault), the place of occurrence (for example, home) and the activity underway when the injury occurred is not (AIHW 2022b).

Currently, this gap inhibits understanding of the extent and impact of this issue on both the health system and the population. For example, it is difficult to answer questions about how FDV impacts EDs, or how many times the same person may be interacting with emergency departments because of violence (AIHW 2022b).

Some relevant information on emergency department presentations related to FDV is collected in some jurisdictions, for example Victoria (see Box 4).

In 2018–19, the AIHW, in conjunction with state and territory stakeholders, developed options for enhancing the capture of FDSV in national ED data, and national discussions continue about the options for capturing external cause data more broadly in national ED data (AIHW 2020b).

As more Urgent Care Clinics are established across Australia (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2023), it is expected that some patients experiencing FDSV will present at these services instead of emergency departments. Development of the national Urgent Care Clinic data collection may provide an opportunity to capture and report data related to FDSV in the future.

Ambulance services

Ambulance services can respond to health emergencies related to FDSV. Ambulance clinical records have the potential to capture characteristics of FDSV including the type of violence, relationships between victims and perpetrators, and other associated health factors (such as substance use or mental health concerns). Recording accurate data on attendance for FDSV may also help identify repeat incidents, or individuals who may require additional support or intervention (Scott et al. 2020a).

As noted previously, surveillance data on FDSV at a public health level are limited. Ambulance data has the potential to overcome some of the limitations with other data sources. However, ambulance services are run by states and territories – while many states and territories recognise the importance of identifying FDSV incidents, developments to capture national service-level data are required (AIHW 2022b). Box 5 outlines the data available for reporting on ambulance attendances from the National Ambulance Surveillance System and Box 6 reports rates from Ambulance Victoria.

Other selected health services

Mental health

Given the complex interactions between FDSV and mental illness, services that are dedicated to mental health care can play an important role in responding to people who are at risk of or are experiencing violence. Examples of these services include: 

• community-mental health care services
• residential mental health care services
• specialised psychiatric hospital 
• ward services provided by psychologists, psychiatrists and other allied health professionals.

Nationally consistent data on FDSV is not currently available across any of these services. While some information on FDSV is available for people admitted to hospital, it is limited to hospitalisations where an FDV assault has been identified or disclosed (see Box 2).

Some relevant data are available in some jurisdictions. For example, in New South Wales screening for domestic violence is required for women aged 16 years and over who attend publicly-funded mental health services and data are available on screening uptake and the outcome (NSW Health 2023).

Alcohol and other drug treatment services

People who are at risk of or experiencing violence may use services dedicated to treatment for alcohol and/or other drug use. Examples of these services include alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services, and services provided in alcohol and other drug hospital treatment units.

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set collects information on the majority of publicly-funded AOD treatment services. This data set does not collect specific information on FDSV, however some relevant data are collected in some states and territories. For example:

• In Queensland, three flags can be recorded in the AOD sector: experiencing family or domestic violence; experiencing family or domestic violence (Domestic Violence Order); and experiencing domestic or family violence (police protection needed) (AIHW 2020a).
• As per mental health services, New South Wales domestic violence screening is required for women aged 16 years and over who attend publicly-funded alcohol and other drug services, and data are available on screening uptake and the outcome (NSW Health 2023).

Specialist sexual violence services

Health-related specialist sexual violence services are usually provided by specialist sexual assault service providers or designated wards/units within hospitals. These services respond to sexual assault by any perpetrator, including domestic and family members, and include medical and forensic sexual assault care, counselling and support, information and referrals. Services and/or interventions may target particular populations, for example, adults, children, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

Nationally consistent data on these services is not currently available, although some data are collected at the state/territory level. Under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021–2030, a baseline analysis of specialist and community support services for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse is underway. Several activities will be undertaken as part of this work including an assessment by the Australian Institute of Health and welfare (AIHW) on the feasibility of developing a nationally consistent minimum data collection for the relevant support services. This project has the potential to build the foundations for improved availability of national specialist sexual violence services data in the longer term (AIHW 2022b).

The National Redress Scheme commenced on 1 July 2018 for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse. As at 30 June 2025, 74% of people who accepted an offer of redress had also accepted an offer of counselling and psychological care (DSS 2025). Some of this counselling and psychological care may have been provided by specialist sexual violence services.

For information on data development work being undertaken in relation to specialist FDSV services collections, please see Key information gaps and development activities.

More information

• Injury in Australia
• Family, domestic and sexual violence: National data landscape 2022