Prevalence of domestic violence

Income had a minimal impact of the understanding of the law. The only difference found for the difference income levels was between residents earning above $150,000 and residents earning $50,000 and below on whether rape exists in a sexual relationship. Residents earning above $150,000 (2.0%) were 3.6 times more likely to agree rape does not exist in a sexual relationship than residents earning $50,000 and below (5.7%).

Comments & Recommendations

• There is an increased understanding that rape can exist in relationships. However, it is unclear why there is a decreased perception that DV is a criminal offence. • More initiatives are required to create awareness among other ethnicities about DV being a criminal offence and that rape can exist in relationships.

Prevalence of domestic violence

Those who understand the prevalence of domestic violence generally tend to find it unacceptable and likely to intervene when they witness abusive behaviours (Gracia & Herrero, 2006). In general, there is a reasonably high level of awareness on the prevalence of domestic violence in the Wagga Wagga community. This level of awareness, however, has significantly decreased in the past 5 years from 2016 to 2021 (see table 18). This significant decrease could reflect an actual reduction in domestic violence in the Wagga Wagga community or a decreased awareness. We found that residents in 2016 were 1.8 times more likely to agree domestic violence is a serious issue for Wagga Wagga than residents in 2021. Similarly, residents in 2016 were 3.5 times more likely to agree domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga.

Table 18. Responses (as percentages of the entire survey population who agree) to statements about the prevalence of domestic violence.

Wagga Wagga 2021 % Wagga Wagga 2016 % Significant Difference

Domestic violence is a serious issue for Wagga Wagga* 83.0 87.5 Yes

Domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga* 73.1 82.8 Yes

Domestic violence occurs in gay and lesbian relationships 83.9 82.3 No Note: *indicates a significant difference

Gender

Males and females differed on their perceptions of domestic violence prevalence, particularly in their community (see table 19). Females were more likely to agree that domestic violence is prevalent than males. Specifically, females were 2.3 times more likely to agree that domestic violence is a serious issue for Wagga Wagga, and 2.3 times more likely to agree that domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga, than males. Female residents were also 1.6 times more likely to agree that domestic violence occurs in gay and lesbian relationships than males.

Table 19. Responses (as percentages of the entire survey population who agree) to statements about the prevalence of domestic violence, as separated by gender.

Males % Females %

Significant Difference Domestic violence is a serious issue for Wagga Wagga* 76.5 88.7 Yes Domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga* 80.5 86.9 Yes Domestic violence occurs in gay and lesbian relationships* 63.8 81.5 Yes

Note: *indicates a significant difference

Age of the residents in the Wagga Wagga community impacted the attitudes towards domestic violence prevalence. Specifically, residents aged 40 to 55 (85.1%) were 1.7 times more likely to agree domestic violence is a serious issue in Wagga Wagga compared to residents over 55 (80.6%). Similarly, those aged between 25 and 39 (88.0%) were 1.9 times more likely to agree domestic violence occurs in gay and lesbian relationships than those aged over 55 (80.2%).

Ethnicity and Education

Difference was found for prevalence of attitudes across ethnicity groups and education levels. Both Anglo-Saxon residents and ATSI residents were more likely to agree that domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga than residents with Other ethnicities (e.g., Asian, African, and other). For example, Anglo-Saxon residents (73.9%) were 1.9 times more likely to agree domestic violence is common, while ATSI (78.8%) were 2.7 times more likely to agree domestic violence is common than the Other ethnicity group (56.6%). In terms of education, university educated residents (86.9%) were 1.7 times more likely to agree that domestic violence occurs in gay and lesbian relationships than residents who studied at TAFE or Trade school (79.2%).

Employment

The employment status of respondents did not impact the prevalence attitudes towards domestic violence, consistent with the respondents in 2016.

Income

In the Wagga Wagga community, the lower income brackets had higher levels of awareness on the prevalence of domestic violence than the higher income brackets. For example, residents earning under $50,000 (87.1%) were 2.6 times more likely to agree domestic violence is a serious issue in Wagga Wagga than residents earning over $150,000 (78.0%). Consistent with this trend, residents earning under $50,000 (75.7%) were 2 times more likely to agree domestic violence is common in Wagga Wagga than residents in the $101,000 to $150,000 income bracket (68.9%), and those earning between $51,000 and $100,000 (75.5%) were 1.7 times more likely to agree than those earning $101,000 to $150,000.

Comments & Recommendations

• Females, younger people, ATSI and Anglo-Saxons, and lower income residents are more likely to recognise

DV in Wagga Wagga.