Executive summary This report completes the third phase of the three-phase project on domestic violence (DV) in Wagga Wagga.
Phase one Research – first Community Attitudes Survey was conducted by Wagga Women’s Health Centre in 2016, to understand domestic violence in Wagga Wagga.
Phase two Strategic Planning. Strategy paper was developed outlining a best model prevention approach.
Phase three Interventions – theDVproject:2650 (prevention activities rolled out). It documents the findings from the 2021 Community Attitudes to Domestic Violence Survey to identify any shifts in attitudes and beliefs, and recognition of gender drivers of DV from 2016, following implementation of Primary Prevention program (theDVproject:2650) for the Wagga Wagga community. The implications for policy and practice for Wagga Wagga are also presented. The online survey was modified from the 2016 Community Attitudes to Domestic Violence Survey that was originally sourced from the National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women survey (NCAS). The results of the 2021 Community Attitudes to Domestic Violence Survey are benchmarked against the 2016 Community Attitudes to Domestic Violence Survey results for the city of Wagga Wagga. This survey investigated four key areas related to violence against women to which domestic violence is the biggest contributor: • • • •
Community knowledge of domestic violence. Attitudes towards domestic violence. Attitudes towards gender roles and intimate relationships. Responses to witnessing domestic violence and knowledge of resources.
A total of 1,033 Wagga Wagga residents over the age of 18 years, completed the 2021 Community Attitudes towards domestic violence survey. In combination with using a sample of convenience, participation of the survey was voluntary and as such respondents self-selected into the study. A sample of convenience and self-selection can lead to a misrepresentative sample, in terms of demographic factors including age, gender, ethnicity, education, employment status and income. To enhance the representativeness of the current sample, post-stratification weighting was based on age and gender. Responses were analysed based on sociodemographic characteristics. Findings indicate similarities and differences between the 2021 Community Attitudes survey against the 2016 Community Attitudes survey data.
Knowledge and understanding of domestic violence In addressing domestic violence in communities, recognising behaviours that constitute violence is essential to initiate and encourage ongoing community engagement to address the issue (Wagga Women's Health Centre (WWHC), 2017). •
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From 2016 to 2021, knowledge of what behaviours constitute domestic violence has improved for three of the nine domestic violence behaviours: controlling social life (1.6 times), denying access to money (1.6 times), and tracking a partner (1.7 times). The increased knowledge of domestic violence from 2016 to 2021 resulted in 8 of the 9 behaviours receiving acknowledgement above 90%, compared to only 5 of the 9 behaviours in 2016.
Attitudes towards domestic violence Minimising and trivialising the impact of domestic violence can be harmful for those experiencing domestic violence (Winstok & Straus, 2011). This also impacts on the effectiveness of any primary prevention activities aiming at reducing instances of domestic violence in the community (Gondolf, 1998). Minimising or trivialising the impact of DV was often reflected in the perception of severity of DV abuse.
