Family Violence has a profound impact on a person’s health and wellbeing, on families and communities, and on society as a whole.

 

Whilst it is a widespread social problem that affects people from all walks of life, some groups are more likely to experience family violence than the general population.

 

These groups include women, children, young people, aboriginal and torres strait islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals, LGBTIQA individuals and the elderly.

 

Sources:  1. 2011 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Burden of Disease Study (Ayre et al. 2016; Webster, 2016);
2. 2016 Personal Safety Survey (ABS, 2017); 3. 2015-16 Specialist homelessness services collection (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017)

Women: Women who experience violence can be affected in many ways such as self-esteem, confidence, employment, financial independence, long term security, physical health, wellbeing, and social connections with friends and family. They are more likely to experience physical injuries, disabilities, chronic pain and other medical symptoms and illnesses; anxiety, depression, eating, panic and post-traumatic stress disorders; and adopt substance and alcohol abuse.

 

Children: Children are often present when there is family violence in the home. Exposure to violence against their mothers or other caregivers causes profound harm to children, with potential impacts on health, wellbeing and education as well as negative attitudes to relationships and violence - for example, some boys may become perpetrators themselves as adults, whilst some girls may become more accepting of intimate partner violence.