Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 1 920801 38 3
Year 2005

Price: $19.95

  
Domestic Violence

Volume 228, Issues in Society
A recent report prepared for the federal government provides some confronting statistics of a disturbing epidemic: each year 408,100 Australians are victims of domestic violence; 87% of sufferers are women; 263,000 children live with family violence; the cost to Australia’s economy is $8.1 billion a year. This publication explores family and relationship violence and domestic abuse – what are the many behaviours which constitute domestic violence, and what can be done to prevent perpetrators and protect victims? How can we create healthy relationships and break the cycle of violence?

Chapter 1: Domestic Violence in Australia
Australian statistics on domestic violence; Examples of domestic violence; $8bn cost of domestic violence; Myths about domestic violence; Myths and realities of spouse abuse; Understanding men as victims of family violence; Myths about violence within gay and lesbian relationships; One quarter of young people in Australia witness domestic violence; Domestic violence – tips for children

Chapter 2: Breaking the Cycle of Violence in Relationships
Relationship violence; Cycle of violence; An abusive relationship; Healthy relationships; Fair fighting; Being violent; What do you do when she tells you?; Violence against women: Australia says no; Safety plan

Glossary; Facts and Figures; Further Links and Resources; Index
 

Facts & Figures

• 23% of women who had ever been married or in a de facto relationship, experienced violence by a partner at some time during the relationship.

• 42% of women who had been in a previous relationship reported violence by a previous partner.

• Half of women experiencing violence by their current partner experienced more than one incident of violence. Injuries sustained in the last incident were mainly bruises, cuts, and scratches, but also included stab or gun shot wounds, and other injuries.

• 12% of women, who reported violence by their current partner at some stage during the relationship, said they were currently living in fear.

• Women who experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner were significantly more likely to experience emotional abuse (manipulation, isolation or intimidation) than those who had not experienced violence.

• 35% of women experienced violence from their partner during periods of separation.

• Younger women were more at risk than older women, with 7.3% of women aged 18-24 years having experienced one or more incidents of violence from a current partner in the previous 12 month period as compared to 1.2% of women aged 55 and over.

• Women experiencing domestic violence are more likely to deal with the issues themselves or talk to family and friends rather than seek outside support due to barriers such as fear, isolation, lack of support and shame.

• 20.8% of all homicides involve intimate partners. This represents approximately 76 homicide incidents within Australia each year.

• Indigenous women are far more likely to be killed by their partner than non-Indigenous women. Just under half of all Indigenous homicides occur as a result of a domestic altercation.

• Filipino women living in Australia are almost six times over-represented as victims of homicide, compared to other women.

• Children are exposed to domestic violence by witnessing violence and abuse, intervening to protect their mother, being present in a household filled with violence and terrorizing behaviours as well as being directly abused themselves.

• In addition to exposure to domestic violence, it is estimated that in 30% to 60% of families where domestic violence is a factor, child abuse is also occurring.

• The National Crime Prevention (2000) study, Young People and Domestic Violence, revealed: 92% believed domestic violence to be either very or quite serious; one in twenty considered forcing a partner to have sex, throwing things like plates at each other and regular slapping or punching to be part of “normal conflict” rather than “domestic violence”.

• Multi-causal factors may explain higher rates of violence within Aboriginal communities. Historical circumstances, the loss of land and traditional culture, the disempowerment of traditional elders, breakdown of community kinship systems and Aboriginal law, entrenched poverty and racism are clearly factors underlying the use of violence.

• More than a quarter of a million Australian children live in homes afflicted by domestic violence in an “expensive epidemic” costing $8.1 billion a year.

• Each year 408,100 Australians are victims of domestic violence and 87 per cent of sufferers are women.

• 263,000 children live with family violence, with about 181,200 children witnessing domestic violence in 2002-03.

• Only about 20% of wife batterers exhibit violence in other relationships. Most appear very reasonable and “respectable” outside the family.

• Victoria Police statistics indicate that approximately 20% of victims of reported family violence are men, with men also accounting for over 80% of perpetrators.

• Witnessing parental domestic violence has emerged as the strongest predictor of perpetration of violence in young people’s own intimate relationships.

• A violent relationship may not be violent all the time. Some of the time, violent people treat their boyfriend or girlfriend very well. They can be very loving and sorry for their violent behaviour. It can make it hard to see what’s really happening. There is a strong chance that the violence will get worse over time and the relationship more abusive.

• 58% of women who were physically assaulted discussed their experience with a friend or neighbour.

• 20% experienced violence for the first time when they were pregnant.

• Younger women are at high risk, 19% of 18-24 year-olds experienced one or more incidents.

• 42% of victims who did not contact the police said they wanted to deal with it themselves.

• 38% of women experiencing violence from a current partner and 46% of women who experienced violence by a previous partner said that children in their care had witnessed the violence.