Summary
Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major national health and welfare issue that can have lifelong impacts for victims and perpetrators. It affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds, but predominantly affects women and children. The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Personal Safety Survey estimated that 2.2 million adults have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence from a partner since the age of 15, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men have been sexually harassed, and 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced stalking. In 2017, police recorded 25,000 victims of sexual assault.
This report builds on the AIHW’s inaugural Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia 2018 report. It presents new information on vulnerable groups, such as children and young women. It examines elder abuse in the context of family, domestic and sexual violence, and includes new data on telephone and web-based support services, community attitudes, sexual harassment and stalking. It also includes the latest data on homicides, child protection, hospitals and specialist homelessness services.
1. Introduction
- What is family, domestic and sexual violence?
- How common is family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia?
- Government policies
- Reporting on family, domestic and sexual violence
- Data sources and supporting materials used in this report
2. Extent and nature of family, domestic and sexual violence
- Rates of violence over time
- Extent of intimate partner violence
- Nature of partner violence
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual assault
3. Responses to family, domestic and sexual violence
- Police responses
- Legal responses
- Hospitalisations
- Income support
- Specialist homelessness services
- Family and relationship services
- Technology assisted services
- Family, domestic and sexual violence workforce
4. Impacts and outcomes of family, domestic and sexual violence
- Long-term health impacts and outcomes
- Homicide
5. Attitudes and behaviours relating to family, domestic and sexual violence
- Community attitudes towards violence against women
- Sexual harassment
- Stalking
6. Family, domestic and sexual violence in vulnerable populations
- Children
- Young women
- Older people
- People with disability
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- LGBTIQ+ people
- People in rural and remote Australia
- Socioeconomically disadvantaged people
7. Family violence among Indigenous Australians
- Prevalence of family violence
- Responses to family violence
- Impacts and outcomes of family violence
8. Key data gaps and data development activities
- Prevalence
- Responses
- Presentation of data
- AIHW data development activities
- Other data development activities
Appendix: State and territory government policies on family, domestic and sexual violence
End matter: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Glossary; References; List of figures; List of tables; Related publications