Compass
Research to policy and practice Issue 02 | October 2015
Violence against women in Australia: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012: Key findings and future directions Dr Peta Cox, Senior Research Officer, ANROWS.
ANROWS Compass (Research to policy and practice papers) are concise papers that summarise key findings of research on violence against women and their children, including research produced under ANROWS’s research program, and provide advice on the implications for policy and practice. This report addresses work covered in ANROWS research project 1.1 “Violence against women in Australia: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012”. Please consult the ANROWS website for more information on this project. In addition to this paper, an ANROWS Horizons is available as part of this project.
ANROWS acknowledgement This material was produced with funding from the Australian Government and the Australian state and territory governments. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) gratefully acknowledges the financial and other support it has received from these governments, without which this work would not have been possible. The findings and views reported in this paper are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to the Australian Government, or any Australian state or territory government. Acknowledgement of Country ANROWS acknowledges the traditional owners of the land across Australia on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past, present and future; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge. © ANROWS 2015 Published by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) PO Box 6322, Alexandria NSW 2015 | www.anrows.org.au | Phone +61 2 8374 4000 ABN 67 162 349 171 Sydney : ANROWS, c2015. ISSN: 2204-9622 (print) 2204-9630 (online) Creative Commons Licence Attribution-Non Commercial
CC BY-NC
This licence lets others distribute, remix and build upon the work, but only if it is for non-commercial purposes and they credit the original creator/s (and any other nominated parties). They do not have to license their Derivative Works on the same terms. Version 3.0 (CC Australia ported licence): View CC BY-NC Australia Licence Deed | View CC BY-NC 3.0 Australia Legal Code Version 4.0 (international licence): View CC BY-NC 4.0 Licence Deed | View CC BY-NC 4.0 Legal Code Design Erin Snelgrove, GOOD MATTERS.
ANROWS Compass | October 2015
Introduction The PSS is the most comprehensive quantitative study of interpersonal violence in Australia. The survey is administered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Over 17,000 women and men completed the 2012 survey.
This ANROWS project provides substantial additional analysis of the data produced through the Australian Personal Safety Survey (PSS). The PSS is currently a largely untapped resource - even the publicly available PSS data has yet to be fully explored and applied to the most obviously relevant research and policy contexts. The ANROWS PSS analysis provides several hundred new statistical items related to violence against women. Almost all the data is new – not only has this information not been readily available to the public before, but the data tables themselves have not been generated previously.
Limitations
The PSS is a complex tool for looking at a complex social problem. The PSS data is layered in a way that can make sub-population analysis difficult. Data becomes more fragile as more limitations are placed on it. Therefore, examination of sub-populations can be difficult because the estimates quickly become too unreliable for general use. Cross-referencing multiple contextual factors can also be difficult for the same reason, so that while extensive detail is available about incidents of violence, the ability to build an understanding of how these factors interact can be more limited. A key limitation of the survey is that the ABS has difficulty in accessing and surveying a statistically valid sample of people from communities of interest, including women with a disability and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Violence against women: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012
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ANROWS Compass | October 2015
Violence experienced by women and men Violence is extremely common in Australia.
Men were more likely to be victims of physical violence while Since the age ofthe 15:age women were more likely to be victims of sexual violence. Since of 15: Since the age of 15: Since the age Since of 15: the age of 15:
Since the age of 15:
1in31women in3women men in 11in1in3in21women in2 3men women 3 women violence 1physical in21 men 2men 1inphysical 2inviolence men
1in51women in5 women 1women in 22 men 11inin5122 inmen 5 women in5 women violence violence 1sexual in22 in men 22 men 11sexual in22men
by a partner, other by a partner, known person other known person
physical violence
by a partner, other by a partner, known person other known person
or stranger. or stranger. by a partner, other known person
or stranger. stranger. by aor partner, other known person
have experienced have experienced
have experienced have experienced
by a partner, other known person by a partner, other known person have experienced have experienced
by a partner, other known person by a partner, other known person have experienced have experienced
or stranger. have experienced sexual sexual violence violence
havephysical experienced physical violence violence
or stranger.
or stranger.or stranger.
sexual violence
or stranger.
or stranger.
The violence experienced by men and women has some different characteristics. Since the age of 15: Since the age of 15:
Since the age of 15: Since the age Since of 15:the age of 15:
Since the age of 15:
3million 3million million 1.1 million 31.1 million 3million by stranger. 3amillion by a stranger. 1.1 million 1.1 million 1.1 by a stranger. bymillion a stranger. 1.5 million 1.5 million 0.45 million by a0.45 stranger. million 1.5 million 1.5 million by a cohabiting partner. 0.45 0.45 million million by a cohabiting partner. 1.5 million men
men
women women
men violence men have experienced have experienced violence
men women women have experienced have experienced violence violence women women
women have experienced violence
men men women women
have experienced violence have experienced violence
Her Hisofplace of Her His place home home entertainment entertainment
Her home
men women men have experienced have experienced violence violence men by a cohabiting by a cohabiting partner. partner.
0.45million
have experienced violence
But it also has some similarities.
by a cohabiting partner.
Both Both 3x more likely likely 3x more Both Both
women women and menand aremen are
to be physically assaulted to be physically assaulted women and women men are and men are
bymore a man. by amore man.likely 3x 3xlikely
Both by a man. by a man.
compared to assaultsto assaults N.B. When compared toN.B. beWhen physically to be physically assaulted assaulted
by a woman by a woman women and men are N.B. When compared to assaults by women. N.B. When compared N.B. Whentocompared assaults to assaults by ato woman by a woman assaulted be physically
3x more likely by a man.
N.B. When compared to assaults by a woman
2
of place of Her His placeHis entertainment entertainment home
most most common placeplace common most most common common place place
Her homeThe
His place of
The entertainment
for most violence occur. to occur. for mostto violence
The
The
most
for most The violence for most to occur. violence to occur.
common place for most violence to occur.
In their most recent physical assault by a male:
5in10 5inwomen 10women 10 men 75ininwomen 10women men 57inin10 contributed 7contributed in 10 7 in men 10 men 5in10women
said alcohol or otheror drugs said alcohol other drugs
to the assault. to the assault.
said alcohol said oralcohol other drugs or other drugs
7in 10men
contributed contributed to the assault. to the assault. said alcohol or other drugs
contributed to the assault.
Violence against women: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012
ANROWS Compass | October 2015
Sexual assault
In the year prior to the survey:
Since the age of 15:
Many women in Australia are affected by million sexual assault. women had experienced AlmostInalltheassaults perpetrated by men. year priorare to the survey: Inyear the year tosurvey: the survey: In the priorprior to the
1.7
sexual violence.
Since the age of 15:
1.7million 1.5million sexual violence. 1.7 million 1.7 million sexual assault.
Since the age of 15: Since the age of 15:
women had experienced
male
99%
women had experienced women experienced women had had experienced
sexual violence. sexual violence.
1.5million sexual assault. 1.5 million 1.5 million
by a
over
perpetrator. by a
over
99%
women had experienced
over over
male
perpetrator . by a by a
male 9999 % % male perpetrator.
women experienced women had had experienced
sexual assault. sexual assault.
perpetrator.
Since the age of 15:
Women are most likely to be sexually assaulted by a man known to them. Since the age of 15:
equally likely
More
Women were to have been sexually assaulted by a
women were sexually assaulted by a
Since the age of 15: Since the age of 15:
cohabiting partner as by a stranger.
boyfriend or date than by a male cohabiting partner.
equally likely
More
women were sexually assaulted by a
boyfriend or date More women More women
than by a male cohabiting were sexually assaulted were sexually assaulted by aby a
partner.
boyfriend date boyfriend or or date a male cohabiting partner. thanthan by aby male cohabiting partner.
Certain characteristics are common to sexual assault incidents.
Women were to have been sexually assaulted by a
cohabiting Women were partner Women were as by a stranger. to have been sexually assaulted to have been sexually assaulted by aby a
equally likely equally likely
cohabiting partner cohabiting partner as aby a stranger. as by stranger.
Regarding their most recent incident of sexual assault by a male:
1in 3
women
sexually assaulted by a known male
thought the sexual assault was a crime. in women
1 3 1thought in 1in 33 the sexual sexually assaulted by a known male
women women
sexually assaulted sexually assaulted assault was by a known malea crime. by a known male
thought sexual thought thethe sexual assault was a crime. assault was a crime.
3in aout of 4 private residence. occurred
1hadinnot 6 told anyone women
about the sexual assault.
1hadinnot 6 told anyone 3in aout of 4 private residence. 1in 1hadin6not 6 told anyone 4 33inoutaout ofof 4 had not told anyone private residence. occurred
occurred occurred
in a private residence.
women
about the sexual assault. women
women
about sexual assault. about the the sexual assault.
Violence against women: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012
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ANROWS Compass | October 2015
Partner violence Intimate partner violence is experienced by a quarter of women in Australia:
in 66 1in 1in 1in 6 1in 41partner 1 in 4 1in 6 1in 4 they were living with. partn 11in 66bywere partner they were living with. 1 partner they living with.partner partner they were living w in 6 in in 4 an intimate partner by an intimate partner 1byinan1411intimate in 4 they were living with. in 9 1in 1 in 9 1 in partner 9 1in 9 partner they were with. with. partner they living were living by an intimate partner by anby intimate partner an intimate partner boyfriend, girlfriend or date. 11in boyfriend, girlfriend or date. 1 boyfriend, or d in 9 in 9 9girlfriend or date. boyfriend, girlfriend boyf women
women women women women violence by aby a had women had experienced violence had experienced violence by a violence had experienced violence by ea have experienced have experienced violence have experienced violencewomen womenwomen women had experienced violence by a women women violence had experienced by had experienced violence a living with. have experienced theyviolence may or may notahaveby been have experienced violence they may or mayexperienced not have been living with. they may or may not have been living with. have violence women women women women hadhad experienced violence by aby a had experienced violence had experienced violence by a had experienced violence by ea
had experienced Since the age ofwomen 15:
nce
ner artner
with. ving with.
they may or may not have been living with. they may they or may not living with. may orhave may been not have been living with.
women
womenwomen had experienced violence by a had experienced violence by a by a had experienced violence
boyfriend, girlfriend or date. boyfriend, girlfriend or date. boyfriend, girlfriend or date.
Of the million Since the 2.2 age of 15:
on illion
women who have experienced Since the agemale of 15: women’s most recent experience of Of women’s most recent experience of intimate partner violence:Of cohabiting partner violence:
ate partner. ntimate partner.
on women illion women
exual violence violence d sexual
ate partner. ntimate partner.
happens in recent the home: Of women’s most experience of cohabiting partner violence:
Of women’s most recent cohabiting partner violen
1.8 million 1.8 million 1.8 million physical violence physical violence physical violence 1.8 million 1.81.8 million million physical violence physical violence physical violence 0.9 million 0.9 9million 0.9 million in 10 sexual violence 9happened in10 9 in10 9 in10 sexual violence sexual violence happened in the home. 0.9 million happened in the home. happened in t 0.90.9 million million in the home. 9 in 10 sexual violence 9 in 10 9 in 10 sexualsexual violence violence happened in the home. home. happened in thein home. happened the
Since the age of 15: Since the Since age ofthe 15:age of 15: women women Since the age of 15:
hysical violence d physical violence
Since the age ofall 15:violence between cohabiting partners Almost
cohabiting partner violence:
women
experienced women by a male intimate partner. womenwomen experienced At least experienced experienced At least by a male intimate partner. by a male partner. by intimate a male intimate partner. women incidents incidents experienced women by a male intimate partner. womenwomen experienced experienced experienced by a male intimate partner. by a male partner.partner. by intimate a male intimate
Of women’s most recent experience ofwomen women Of women’s recent experience of Of most women’s most recent experience of cohabiting partner violence: experienced cohabiting partner violence: cohabiting partner violence: experienced
by a male intimate partner. by a male intimate partner. At least
At least
women women experienced At least incidents experienced At least At least by a male intimate partner. by a male intimate partner. incidents incidents incidents
incid
Cohabiting partner violence does not just affect the victim. Since the age of 15:
Over
00 000
women women rtner violence d partner violence
OverOver
Over
Over
Over
Over
400,000 half a m half 400,000 400,000 halfa million a million half a million 400,000 million 400,000 halfhalf a million 400,000 half aa million
women Over Over women Over Over Over Overwomen experienced partner violence their children women reported experienced partner violence experienced partner violence their children their children women reported women reported women reported th nancy. during pregnancy. women partner violence. had seen or heard regnancy. during pregnancy. during pregnancy. women women had seen or heard partner violence. had seen or heard partner violence. had seen or he experienced their children women reported experienced partnerpartner violenceviolence experienced partner violence womenwomen reported their children reported their children during pregnancy. had seen or heard heard partner violence. during had seen heard partner partner violence. had or seen or violence. It can be difficult to leaveduring apregnancy. violentpregnancy. relationship. Since the age of 15:
Over 81,900 Over Over 81,900 81,900 1 in 4 1 in 4 1 in 4 1in 4 wanted to leave half a million half a millio wanted to leave wanted to leave took time off work half a million half a million half a million took time off work took time off work took t Over 81,900 Over 81,900 Over or assets behind left leftleft property or assets behind leftbehind property or asse 1 in 4 property or assets behind left property property or assets 1 in 4 but never have. in wanted to butwanted never have. but never have. to leave aa million wanted to leave leave half half took off time off work work ahalf million took time work took time off left property or assets behind left property or assets behind left property or assets behind Over Over
women women have women their violent current partner womenwomen women
have when they moved away after their violent havemoved have when they away aftercurrent their violent their violent partner relationship ended. their violent current partner their violent current partner nly. N.B. ended. For partner at time of survey only. relationship
but but never have.have. but never never have.
women women employed women employed women have employed women have women women their violent current partner their violent current partner as a result of their most recent incident employed women women as a result of their most recent incident as a result ofemployed their most recent incident as a result employed women of physical assault by a when they moved awayof after their women of physical assault by a of physical assault by a physica when they moved away after their violent when they moved away after their violent women women N.B. For partner at time of survey only. male cohabiting partner. relationship ended. N.B. For partner at time of survey only. male cohabiting partner. relationship ended.
when they moved away after their violent when theywhen moved away afteraway theirafter violent they moved their violent N.B. Foratpartner time of survey only. relationship ended. N.B. For partner time ofat survey only. N.B. For partner at time of survey only. relationship ended. relationship ended.
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male cohabiting partner. relationship ended. as a result of their most recent incident as a resultas ofatheir most recent incident result of their most recent incident of physical assault by a of physical byassault a ofassault physical by a male cohabiting partner. male cohabiting partner. partner. male cohabiting
Violence against women: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012
male coha
ANROWS Compass | October 2015
Multiple victimisation Many women experience violence multiple times in their life.
Some women experience violence both as a child and as an adult.
0.78 million of childhood sexual abuse. 0.78 million 0.78 million 0.32 million 0.78 million of childhood sexual abuse. sexual assault as an adult. of childhood sexual abuse. of childhood sexual abuse. 0.32 million 0.32 million 0.32 million sexual assault as an adult. women had experienced multiple incidents
Of these,
women women had experienced multiple incidents women had also experienced at least one Of these, women had experienced multiple incidents Of these, had experienced multiple incidents Of these, women had also experienced at least one women women at least one had also experienced had also experienced at least one sexual assault as an adult.
sexual assault as an adult.
Experiencing both physical and sexual violence as an adult is a form of multiple victimisation.
67.3% 67.3% 67.3% sexual violence have also experienced 67.3% sexual violence have also experienced of women who had experienced
sexual violence have also experienced a separate incident of physical violence.
of women who had experienced of women who had experienced of women who had experienced
a separate incident of physical violence.
sexual violence have also experienced Repeated violence by the same man is a also a form of separate incident of physical violence. a separate incident of physical violence. multiple victimisation. Nearly
1hadmillion experienced multiple incidents of physical violence by the same man. 1hadmillion 1hadmillion experienced multiple incidents 1 million experienced incidents ofhad physical violence by themultiple same man. experienced multiple incidents Nearly
Nearly
women
Nearly
women
women
women
of physical violence by the same man. of physical violence by the same man.
In the 12 months prior to the survey:
Multiple victimisation affects some groups of women more than others. Women with a disability
more likely
In the 12 months prior to the survey: In the 12 months prior to the survey: In the 12 months prior to the survey:
were
to experience multiple incidents Women with a disability Women a disability of Women violence by awith male perpetrator. with a disability
more likely were more likely towere experience multiple incidents more likely to experience multiple incidents
were
oftoviolence by a multiple male perpetrator. experience of violence by a incidents male perpetrator. of violence by a male perpetrator.
Violence against women: Additional analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Personal Safety Survey, 2012
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