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Get the Facts
As part of the Intimo Aware program, we have prepared the following fact sheets designed to provide succinct, accurate and relevant information on domestic violence.
Domestic violence affects one in five women. The biggest perpetrator is silence.
Let's break the silence. Let's talk about it. Together, let's be AWARE.
Intimo Aware Fact Sheets
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Get the Facts
What is Domestic Violence?
Definition
Domestic and family violence is any behaviour or behaviours used by one person to establish and maintain power and control over another person in the domestic or family situation or relationship, and which causes the victim to live with fear. It is a form of bullying and is a significant health, social and economic issue for the Australian community.
Types of Behaviour
Power and Control - Domestic violence is not the same as an argument or relationship conflict. A 'fair fight' can never take place if one partner is fearful of the other. Domestic violence is used to maintain power and control over another person. Controlling behaviours such as possessiveness, jealousy, put downs and threats are often evident before a relationship becomes physically violent.
Social Abuse - Isolating from others - restricting social life and making it difficult for to have friends and maintain social contact with family.
Physical Assault - Hitting, slapping, pushing, grabbing, kicking, pulling hair or threatening physical harm, breaking things, punching walls or driving a car dangerously.
Verbal Abuse - Insults, name calling and swearing
Economic Abuse- Taking control of the finances and limiting the amount of and access to money and funds.
Psychological and Emotional Abuse- Constant criticism and put downs, sulking, ignoring, humiliation.
Sexual Abuse - Demands and forcing a person to participate in acts they do not wish to perform.
Incidence
Due to the sensitive nature of the issue of domestic violence, it is difficult to accurately measure the incidence of domestic violence as it often goes unreported. However in 1996, the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a national survey, which found that 23% of women who have ever been married or in a de facto relationship has experienced physical violence from a male partner. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Women’s Safety Australia. Similar results have been reported in New Zealand and other developed countries. According to the World Health Organisation, in every country where reliable, large-scale studies have been conducted, results indicate that between 10% and 50% of women report they have been physically abused by an intimate partner in their lifetime. World Health Organisation (2001) Violence Against Women Fact Sheet
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What are the effects of Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence has wide ranging physical, medical, emotional, social and psychological consequences including anxiety, depression and other emotional distress, physical stress symptoms, sleep disturbances, suicide attempts, alcohol and drug abuse, reduced coping and problem solving skills, loss of self esteem and confidence, social isolation, fear of starting new relationships.
The Physical Impact
A recent Victorian study found that intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15-44, being responsible for more of the disease burden than many well know risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. Department of Human Services Victoria (2004)
The Health Costs of Violence. Measuring the Burden of Disease caused by Intimate Partner Violence.
According to Jo Cavanagh, CEO of Southern Family Life in Melbourne, “Women in abusive relationships are often on prescription medication for depression or to help them sleep and regularly struggle with heavy use of tobacco and alcohol Changing these damaging conditions and habits is extremely difficult when the abuse has led them to feel worthless and think so negatively about themselves”.
The Psychological Impact
A South Australian study2 conducted in 1998 found that the psychological, verbal and emotional abuse was far more devastating and long lasting in its effect than physical violence. "Victims reported that psychological and emotional abuses were built into their relationships, and occurred around the 'little things' of daily life. Most victims reported that the threats of physical violence were as powerful in controlling them as the actual incidences of violence. This was because the perpetrators had shown that they were capable of carrying out the threats. South Australian Department of Human Services, Adelaide (1998) South Australian Health Goals and Targets: Violence and Abuse Priority Areas
Domestic Violence and Children
Children are often the "silent victims" of domestic violence. Even though they may not be the victims of physical violence the exposure to this type of behaviour and relationship model has severe consequences.The ABS Women's Safety Survey found that of the women who experienced violence by a current partner, 61 per cent reported that they had children in their care at some time during the relationship, and 38 per cent said that these children had witnessed the violence. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Women’s Safety Australia.
The research report, Family Violence: A Whole Family Approach4 found that children living in families experiencing domestic violence are gravely affected even when they are not the targets of the abuse. The impact of witnessing violence can not be differentiated from the impact of experiencing direct violence. Hewitt & Cavanagh (2000) Family Violence: A Whole Family Approach
The Stats
A Snapshot
The following statistics have been reproduced from a variety of reports and surveys. They paint a sobering picture of the incidence and impacts of domestic violence.
- 23% of women who have ever been married or in a de facto relationship has experienced physical violence from a male partner. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Women’s Safety Australia.
- This survey also found that of the women who had experienced domestic violence, 20 per cent experienced domestic violence for the first time while they were pregnant. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Women’s Safety Australia.
- 58% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. Australian Bureau of Statistics(2002)
Crime and Safety Survey - Most assaults against women where the victim knows the offender go unreported. Carlos Carcach, Australian Institute of Criminology, (1998) Reporting Crime to the Police
- Intimate partner violence is responsible for more ill health and premature death in Victorian women under the age of 45 than any other of the well-known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking. Department of Human Services Victoria (2004) The Health Costs of Violence. Measuring the Burden of Disease caused by Intimate Partner Violence.
- Ninety percent of children present in violent homes have witnessed the violence perpetrated against their mother. Queensland Domestic Violence Taskforce (1998)
- It is estimated that the economic cost of domestic violence on Australian businesses exceeds $1.5 billion a year. Henderson M (2000) Impacts and Costs of Domestic Violence on the Australian Business Corporate Sector Brisbane: Lord Mayor’s Women’s Advisory Committee, Brisbane City Council