Domestic and Family Violence

So what happens when your personal power has been taken away by either an intimate partner or a family member, and you feel afraid to act?

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Let's talk openly about what can happen when "arguments" and "power plays" get so serious that one person experiences fear.

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In 2021–22 the Australian Personal Safety Survey reported the following violence prevalence rates:

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Since the age of 15:

• 2 in 5 women (39%) and 2 in 5 men (43%) experienced violence

• 1 in 5 women (22%) and 1 in 16 men (6.1%) experienced sexual violence

• 1 in 3 women (31%) and 2 in 5 men (42%) experienced physical violence

• 1 in 5 women (20%) and 1 in 15 men (6.8%) experienced stalking

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Intimate partner or family member violence, since the age of 15

• 1 in 4 women (27%) and 1 in 8 men (12%) experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member

• 1 in 12 women (8.1%) and 1 in 17 men (5.9%) experienced violence by a family member

• 1 in 4 women (23%) and 1 in 14 men (7.3%) experienced violence by an intimate partner

• 1 in 11 women (9.3%) and 1 in 44 men (*2.3%) experienced violence by a boyfriend, girlfriend, or date

• 1 in 6 women (17%) and 1 in 18 men (5.5%) experienced cohabiting partner violence

• 1 in 4 women (23%) and 1 in 7 men (14%) experienced cohabiting partner emotional abuse

• 1 in 6 women (16%) and 1 in 13 men (7.8%) experienced cohabiting partner economic abuse

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Before the age of 15:

• 1 in 6 women (18%) and 1 in 9 men (11%) experienced childhood abuse

• 1 in 6 women (16%) and 1 in 9 men (11%) witnessed parental violence during childhood ​

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Let these numbers sink in.​​​​​

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These numbers continue to rise, unfortunately, as the shame, guilt, blame and secrecy associated with the violence that happens behind closed doors continues to exist.

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Like many other first-world countries, Australia has very specific laws about Family & Domestic Violence:

• Any person who coerces, controls or causes another person to be or feel afraid or fear for their wellbeing - is seen as a perpetrator of violence, or a person using violence.

• Any person who exposes a baby, child or young person under the age of 18 is seen as a perpetrator of family violence.

• These behaviours usually occur in a recognizable pattern over time.

• There does not need to be a physical injury for a person to have experienced family and domestic violence.

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