Violence by an intimate partner
1 in 6 people (16% or 2.9m) experienced
violence3 by an intimate partner4
1 in 4 women
(2.2 million)
1 in 13 men
(703,000)
Sexual violence
1 in 9 people (11.7% or 2.2m) experienced
sexual violence5
1 in 5 women
(1.7 million)
1 in 20 men
(428,000)
Extensive research indicates
violence, abuse and neglect and other
adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)8 have
serious outcomes for women, children and men’s
health. These health and wellbeing outcomes are
cumulative and may be
incrementally worse for people experiencing
multiple types of abuse or other
ACEs.
Physical injuries
Mental health
An estimated half to two thirds of young people have been exposed to at least
one traumatic event by the time they turn 16.2
Child abuse (before the age of 15)
1 in 8 people (13% or 2.5m) 18 years and over experienced
child abuse6
1 in 6 women
(1.5 million)
1 in 9 men
(991,600)
Witness violence to parent
1 in 9 Australians (2m) witnessed
violence7 towards their
mother by a partner.
1 in 22 Australians (819,000) witnessed
violence7 towards their
father by a partner.
Death
Physical health
Chronic disease
Sexual and reproductive health
Behaviours associated with risk
Footnotes
-
Rossman, 2002 & Mills et al., 2011 cited in Bendall et al., 2018
-
Copeland et al., 2007 & McLaughlin et al., 2013 cited in
Bendall et al., 2018
-
Physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.
-
Current and/or previous partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or date.
-
Sexual assault and sexual threat since the age of 15.
-
Physical and/or sexual abuse by an adult (18 years and over) before the age of 15.
-
Physical assault only witnessed before the age of 15. 8. In addition to violence, abuse and neglect, ACEs include parental substance abuse, mental health, separation, & incarceration.
Infographics:
Costello & Backhouse, 2019a. Data sources (other than for 1. & 2. already cited above):
ABS, 2017 (Personal Safety Survey); various sources cited in
Costello & Backhouse, 2019b (especially pp.109-111); 70/30 Campaign (WAVE Trust, 2018); and Burke Harris, 2018.