Family, domestic and sexual violence occurs across all ages and demographics. However some groups are more vulnerable than others, because they are at greater risk or because the impacts and outcomes of violence can be more serious or long-lasting.
Women
In 2017–18, assault by a spouse or domestic partner accounted for 48% of assault hospitalisations for females aged 15 and over. The rate of assault hospitalisations for injury by a spouse or domestic partner was higher for females than males across every age group, except for those aged 85 and over.
Children and young people
The impacts of family, domestic and sexual violence on children can be severe, affecting their health, wellbeing, education, relationships and housing outcomes (ANROWS 2018). In 2017–18, there were 628 hospitalisations of children aged 0–14 for injuries due to abuse (including assault, maltreatment and neglect). Of the 495 hospitalisations where a perpetrator was specified, 65% (321) related to family violence with 47% (231) of perpetrators recorded as a parent.
In 2017–18, there were 5,000 hospitalisations of young people aged 15–24 due to assault. Of these cases, 24% (1,200) were perpetrated by a family member. Assault perpetrated by a spouse or domestic partner accounted for 63% (753) of family and domestic violence-related assault hospitalisations.
See Health of children and Health of young people.
People living in lower socioeconomic areas
In 2017–18, people aged 15 and over living in the lowest socioeconomic areas were more than 6 times as likely to be hospitalised for assault by a spouse or domestic partner (47 per 100,000) than those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (7.1 per 100,000). More than 2 in 5 (45%, or 1,900) hospitalisations for assault perpetrated by a spouse or domestic partner involved people living in the lowest socioeconomic areas.
See Health across socioeconomic groups.
People living in remote areas
In 2017–18, the hospitalisation rate for assault by a spouse or domestic partner was 562 per 100,000 people for people aged 15 and over living in Very remote areas and 200 per 100,000 for people living in Remote areas. People living in Major cities, Inner regional, and Outer regional areas had lower rates (12, 13 and 36 per 100,000 respectively). These findings are affected by the higher proportions of Indigenous Australians living in Very Remote areas.
See Rural and remote health.
Indigenous Australians
In 2017–18, there were more than 6,800 assault hospitalisations involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Of the hospitalisations where the perpetrator was specified, 77% (3,400) related to family violence—the perpetrator was identified as a spouse or domestic partner in 48% (2,100) of hospitalisations, and another family member in 29% (1,300) of hospitalisations.
In 2017–18, Indigenous females aged 15 and over were 34 times as likely to be hospitalised for family violence-related assault as other females (685 per 100,000 versus 19.9 per 100,000). Indigenous males were 32 times as likely to be hospitalised for family violence as other males (247 per 100,000 versus 7.8 per 100,000).
For more information on health impacts of family, domestic and sexual violence, see:
Visit Domestic violence for more on this topic.
If you are experiencing family or domestic violence or know someone who is, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit the 1800RESPECT website.
References
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2017. Personal safety, Australia, 2016. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2019. Recorded crime—victims, Australia, 2018. ABS cat. no. 4510.0. Canberra: ABS.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2019. Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia, 2015. Australian Burden of Disease series no. 19. Cat. no. BOD 22. Canberra: AIHW.
ANROWS (Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety) 2018. Research summary: the impacts of domestic and family violence on children. Sydney: ANROWS.
Ayre J, Lum On M, Webster K & Moon L 2016. Examination of the burden of disease of intimate partner violence against women: final report, 2011. Sydney: Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.
Bricknell S 2020a. Homicide in Australia 2016–17. Statistical Report no. 22. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.
Bricknell S 2020b. Homicide in Australia 2017–18. Statistical Report no. 23. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.
Coles J, Lee A, Taft A, Mazza D & Loxton D 2018. Childhood sexual abuse and its association with adult physical and mental health: results from a national cohort of young Australian women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 30(11):1929–44.
COAG (Council of Australian Governments) Women’s Safety Council 2020. Meeting of the COAG Women’s Safety Council Communique 30 March and 2 April 2020. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Viewed 27 May 2020.
GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators 2017. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet 390:1345–422.
Kaspiew R, Carson R, Dow B, Qu L, Hand K, Roopani D, Gahan L & O'Keeffe D 2019. Elder Abuse National Research—Strengthening the Evidence Base: research definition background paper. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Loxton D, Townsend N, Dolja-Gore X, Forder P & Coles J 2018. Adverse childhood experiences and health-care costs in adult life. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 4:1–15.
National Cabinet 2020. National Cabinet Statement. Media statement by Prime Minister 29 March 2020. Canberra.
Peterman A, Potts A, O’Donnell M, Thompson K, Shah N, Oertelt-Prigione S & van Gelder N 2020. Pandemics and violence against women and children. Center for Global Development Working Paper (in press). Viewed 6 May 2020.
van Gelder N, Peterman A, Potts A, O'Donnell M, Thompson K, Shah N & Oertelt-Prigione S 2020. COVID-19: Reducing the risk of infection might increase the risk of intimate partner violence. EClinicalMedicine 21. Viewed 6 May 2020.