Domestic and family violence statistics in Australia
In a typical day in Australia, ten people will be treated in a hospital for injuries inflicted by an intimate partner.
In a typical week, one woman will be killed by her current or former partner.
In a typical month, one man will be killed by his current or former partner.
These statistics are difficult to comprehend for anyone who does not live with the reality of domestic and family violence in their home. Like hearing about a natural disaster on the other side of the world, it is easy to think that domestic and family violence is a terrible, but distant, problem.
The truth is more unsettling. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 1 in 4 women in Australia will suffer abuse at the hands of an intimate partner. 1 in 4 children will be exposed to domestic violence in childhood. That is not something that happens to other people. Domestic and family violence is something that is happening, right now, to someone that you know, and possibly to someone that you love.
Domestic and family violence is predominantly hidden from view, occurring behind closed doors. Victims will often go to great lengths to conceal their abuse because they are ashamed and may even believe that the abuse is their fault.
This concealment further isolates the victim, making it more difficult for them to seek help, and increases their vulnerability to their abuser.
Because domestic and family violence thrives in the dark, one step we can take to help reduce this form of abuse is to shine a spotlight on it. More people need to understand what domestic and family violence is, the signs to look out for, and what can be done to intervene if it is occurring.