Determinants of wellbeing: Safety

Context statement: Measure of safe environment, which is essential to overall mental and physical wellbeing.

Personal crime victimisation rates generally fell between 2008–09 and 2019–20. There was a decrease in the victimisation rate for the following personal crimes: physical assault (3.1% to 2.3%), face-to-face threatened assault (3.9% to 2.4%), non face-to-face threatened assault (1.2% to 0.9%) and robbery (0.6% to 0.3%). However, the victimisation rate for sexual assault (for persons aged 18 years and over) did not fall, remaining stable over the period; 0.3% in both 2008–09 and 2019–20 (ABS 2021).

Rates for malicious property damage have more than halved over the period (11.1% down to 4.6%). There was a decrease in the victimisation rate for other selected household crimes, including: break-in (3.3% to 2.4%), attempted break-in (3.1% to 1.9%), motor vehicle theft (1.1% to 0.6%), theft from a motor vehicle (4.5% to 2.7%) and other theft (4.4% to 2.4%) (ABS 2021).

Reference: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2021. Crime Victimisation, Australia; Reference period: 2019-20. Canberra: ABS.

Context statement: Subjective indicator of personal safety, and associated with confidence and social engagement. Counterbalances objective measure.

In 2016, almost half (47%) of people reported feeling safe walking alone in the local area after dark, compared with 45% in 2005. Rates for feeling safe at home alone after dark were 89% in 2005 and 90% in 2016. Males feel much safer in their local community than females. In 2016, 63% of males reported that they felt safe walking alone in their local area after dark compared with 31% of females (ABS 2017).

For international comparisons, see International comparisons of welfare data.

Reference: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2017. Personal Safety Australia; Reference period: 2016. Canberra: ABS.

Context statement: Indicator of potential family breakdown. Partner violence can affect the physical, mental and reproductive health of those who experience it. Family breakdown in turn puts individuals at significant risk of needing welfare support.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Personal Safety Survey show that between 2005 and 2016, the proportion of women who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months remained relatively stable. Approximately 1.5% of women (aged 18 and over) experienced partner violence in the 12 months before the 2005 and 2012 surveys; 1.7% experienced partner violence in the 12 months before the 2016 survey. There was no significant difference in the proportion of women who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months between the 2012 and 2016 surveys (ABS 2017).

The proportion of men who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months increased from 0.4% in 2005 to 0.6% in 2012 and 0.8% in 2016. There was also no significant change in the proportion of men who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months between the 2012 and 2016 surveys (ABS 2017).

For further information see Family, domestic and sexual violence.

Reference: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2017. Personal Safety Australia; Reference period: 2016. Canberra: ABS.

Context statement: Feeling and being safe at work is an important determinant of wellbeing. The incidence of injury is used to indicate the effectiveness of safety measures and safety of the workplace.

The frequency rate (number of serious claims per million hours worked) declined by 40% between 2000–01 and 2017–18, while the incidence rate (number of serious claims per 1,000 employees) declined by 42%; however, both frequency and incidence rates have remained unchanged since 2015–16 (Safe Work Australia, 2021).

For further information see Workers' compensation.

Reference: Safe Work Australia 2021. Australian Workers’ Compensation Statistics 2018-19.