Complications Related to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence within Aboriginal Community of Australia

This research paper focuses on the complication related to sexual assault and domestic violence within family and home among the Aboriginal community of Australia. It outlines the strategies taken by Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited to uplift women and children of the community. The paper includes a literature review, methodology, findings and analysis, and recommendations. The research questions include why Aboriginal are the main victims of domestic violence, what measures are taken for avoiding such violence, and what recommendations can be suggested to prevent such instances in future.

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER
Research paper
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................2
Research problem.....................................................................................................................2
Unit of investigation..................................................................................................................2
Research questions..................................................................................................................3
Outlook........................................................................................................................................3
2. Literature review....................................................................................................................3
3. Methodology...........................................................................................................................7
4. Findings and analysis............................................................................................................9
5. Recommendations...............................................................................................................12
6. Conclusion............................................................................................................................13
References...................................................................................................................................15

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1. Introduction
This report will focus on the complication related to sexual assault and domestic violence
within family and home. Family violence is any kind of abuse or assault on a child or adult by
another family member. It is a prominent issue among the Aboriginal community of Australia
and therefore it needs to be worked on. Domestic violence or family violence is considered as a
major problem for many years especially among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders of
Australia. There are existing literature, which has stressed on the high victimization of domestic
violence among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders (Brassard et al. 2015).
Research problem
A comparison found out that this particular community is among the highest to face
domestic violence than the rest of the population. There are several complaints reported about
domestic violence in brutal form by the Aboriginal women than other women in Australia. This is
the reason behind the labeling of domestic violence as an emerging issue in the public health
sector that require immediate resolution to prevent negative impacts on the Aboriginal people of
Australia. This particular community of Australia needs to be supported by remedies for dealing
with the social issues faced by the members.
Unit of investigation
This research paper will outline the strategies taken by Rumbalara Aboriginal
Cooperative Limited to uplift women and children of the community. RACL is an NGO, which is
aimed at providing support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Victoria region.
This research paper will generate a literature review followed by the research methodology and
findings and analysis to focus on the particular issue. Recommendation will be provided at the
end to suggest suitable measures.

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Research questions
1. Why Aboriginal are the main victims of domestic violence?
2. What measures are taken for avoiding such violence?
3. What recommendations can be suggested to prevent such instances in future?
Outlook
Rumbalara is the key stakeholder of Aboriginal health sector and it functions within a
culturally susceptible community regulated environment (Bailee and mulligan 2016). They are
supported by a holistic approach in offering their services by focusing on the importance of
family values. The family value programs of Rumbalara are aimed at providing support to the
victims of domestic violence in the Aboriginal community of Australia.
2. Literature review
This section will focus on the existing research carried out by other fresearchers on
similar problems. According to Goulet et al. (2016), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders
are vulnerable to social and economic inequalities leading them towards frustration,
helplessness, frustration, anger, misery and desolateness. Often, this indifference in the
community has led to them to choose a life of alcohol and drugs in order to cope up with the
stress of mental depression. Previous researchers have found out that they require time and
support on an urgent basis in order to heal the mental illness that was inflicted as a reason of
domestic violence. Given below is a visual representation of the domestic violence faced among
the Aboriginal community members.

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Fig: Statistics of domestic violence among the Aboriginal people in Australia
Source: (Funston and Herring 2016)
Fraser (2017) stated that one of the primary ways of reducing the frequency of domestic
violence among the Aboriginal community is to make easy availability and accessibility of
support system. It might reduce the negative effect of domestic violence faced among the
Aboriginal community and Torres Strait Island members. According to Young, Andy and Doherty
(2018) Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited is regarded as the most appropriate support
system for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This NGO has provided extensive services
to the victims of indigenous community in Australia, specially the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders. It was found out from previous researches that the instances of domestic violence
within the family could be prevented only with the incorporation of holistic move towards solving
the social issues prevailing within the indigenous community. This is because it is effective in
gaining in- depth knowledge about the factors involved in the act of domestic violence. They

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consider the factors in order to generate a suitable approach for relieving the aboriginal
community members from the act of domestic violence (Tam et al. 2016). As per the findings of
this atrocious act, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited has a wider comprehension of the
demands of the people in the aboriginal community. This is the main cause behind selecting it
as the appropriate cooperative approach in offering services to the victims of domestic violence
among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Hunter et al. (2016) remarked that the NGO Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited
has stressed more on the family values of the indigenous community in Australia. Due to this
fact, they have extended their support by means of family education programs to impart
knowledge on kids and adults about family values. They are intended to reduce social
indifference among the community members by teaching them to embrace family values and
beliefs. In addition to family education programs, Rumabalara was involved in the practice of
offering justice to the victims of domestic violence by lodging complaint against the offenders.
This NGO has provided a firm platform for the women and children to share their views and
experiences regarding domestic violence. It was considered as an effective way to relieve them
from the pain and sufferings that they have gained from their family members. The cooperative
involved the victims in domestic violence programs where they were imparted education on the
awful activities of family brutality and taught them about the support required to cope up with
these issues and lead to a better future (Spangaro et al. 2016).
As per Marchetti and Daly (2017), family violence takes a worse shape when the victims
are afraid to report and complaint about the experience that they have faced from their
acquaintances. Majority of the women feel afraid to report the cases because of the negative
effects that they might have to face from the offenders. It has resulted in the increase of
domestic violence among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the victims are
threatened and blackmailed by the convicts. This is the reason behind providing justice by the

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Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited where the victims are encouraged to report and
lodge complaint so that such atrocious incidents can be prevented in the future. Such programs
on behalf of the NGO were helpful in providing a platform for the women to share their
experiences of family violence to give a lesson for other women to prevent them from being a
victim of family violence.
Hamdullahpur, Jacobs and Gill (2017) mentioned that previous records of injustice
among the Aboriginal community in Australia led to the increase of family violence. The negative
effects of such instances have led the family members to act brutally o their women and
children. Rumbalara has considered this behavior among the individuals to pave the way for
better strategies as a solution to this severe issue. This NGO was appropriate in finding out
relevant strategies, as they have stressed on specific factors of loss of land and traditional
culture and recognition, racism, lack of respect for the family and community members.

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Fig: Percentage of aboriginal women as victims of domestic violence
Source: (Evans and Feder 2016)
3. Methodology
The research has been conducted in a successful manner, as the researcher has used the
tools of methodologies that are present in a proper way. The research has been conducted
taking in to account the positivism philosophy, as it has helped the researcher in proving the
aims and objectives that has been taken up for the study. It has also allowed the researcher in
using various approaches in a scientific manner so that the factual knowledge can be enhanced.
The different opinions and viewpoints have been taken up as well so that the research can be
authentic in nature (Mackey and Gass 2015).
The research has also taken in to account the approach that is deductive in nature so that
the factors that are present in aborigines with respect to domestic violence among women and
children can be considered in a proper way. It has also allowed the researcher in transforming

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the information in a general manner by aligning it with the objectives so that the research can
look authentic (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015).
The research has been made by taking the descriptive design type so that the various
theories and concepts can be explained as well. It has allowed the researcher in explaining the
different incidences that may lead to these occurrences in the future. Additionally, the
researcher has also been able to generate the causes and the effects in the rationale so that it
can be clarified by taking up this particular type of design for the research (Glesne 2015).
Furthermore, the research has been based on the survey strategy, as the relevant
information has been collected from the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited along with
the surveys that were conducted by them(Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). The researcher
has been able to collect the relevant information from the reports that has been published by the
organization so that it can help in understanding the level of domestic violence that is present
among the women and children among the aboriginal people. Moreover, the information that
has been gathered has also allowed the researcher in achieving the aims and objectives of the
research in a proper manner (Brinkmann 2014).
Apart from the secondary literature that was collected, the researcher has also been able to
conduct the process of survey so that it can provide a better insight regarding the struggles that
the women and children are facing with respect to domestic violence. The survey has been
conducted on 50 families, which has helped the researcher in getting a proper view of the
struggles that are faced by the aboriginal families (Vaioleti 2016). The researcher has
conducted the technique of probability sampling so that the participants have an equal chance
of taking part in the process of survey. It has also helped the researcher in taking in to
consideration the other factors apart from the reports that are published by the organization so
that the process of the research can be authentic (Flick 2015).

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The researcher has collected the data through the qualitative and quantitative method, as
the researcher has been conducted with the help of secondary as well as primary data (Sanson
and Yun 2015). The qualitative study has been conducted through the secondary sources of
literature by collecting relevant information from the reports of the organization whereas the
quantitative study has been conducted with the help of the primary sources of data. These
include the survey of the aboriginal families so that it can help the researcher in gaining better
level of knowledge. The use of the survey method by the researcher will allow in understanding
the problems in a deeper level as well and combine it with the information that has been
collected through the report (Silverman 2016).
Then data that has been collected for the research will be analysed with the help of MS-
Excel so that the opinions of the respondents can be presented with the help of graphs and
further explanation can be provided. This will allow the researcher in presenting the data in a
statistical manner as well (Vaioleti 2016).
The researcher has also abided by the rules and regulations so that the process of the
research can be conducted in an ethical manner. It has allowed the researcher in conducting
the survey by not forcing any of the families to take part in the process without their prior
consent. The information that has been gathered through the surveys will be used for
educational purposes only and not for commercial purposes (Smith 2015).
4. Findings and analysis
As per Ellington, Brassard and Montminy (2015), it was found out that the issue of domestic
violence faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people need to be dealt with cultural
competence. It will enable Rumbalara Cooperatives to have a better knowledge about the
suitable approaches to be included in the support framework. By considering the same, this
NGO has provided an extensive service in the form of external care, kinship care, family

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preservation and a combined approach to family services to build up strong bond of family
values. It was found suitable for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as per the
research carried out by Karskens (2017), as they had previous records of weak family bonding.
Rumbalara had considered this area of concern and offered services, which were aimed at
providing the individuals with such provision, which was snatched away from them in the past.
Breakdown of family ties in the past has resulted in frustration among the male members and
they were involved in the violent action of assaulting heir women and children. The male ego
played a part in this situation as they did not want to be dominated due their inability to take any
step against social and economic injustice occurred in the past. The negative effect of their
consistent frustration was faced by the women and children of the family (Abraham and
Tastsoglou 2016).
According to Kuokkanen (2015), the research findings have agreed to the fact that the
aboriginal women and children were highly vulnerable to domestic and family violence in
comparison to other women of Australia. As a result, they were more at stake of facing domestic
violence and unnatural death because of the suffering. The reason behind this is the previous
records of oppression and sufferings faced by the indigenous community. Moreover, the
aboriginal women were afraid to lodge complaint and report against their offenders. It has
resulted in the increase of brutality among the convicts as they have threatened and
blackmailed the victims (Marchetti and Daly 2017).
It can be further analyzed that the family violence prevailing among the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people in Australia had several negative outcomes. In order to find a
remedy to this severe issue, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited had initiated their
extensive services for the welfare of the indigenous people. Domestic violence outcome went to
the most severe extent of damaging the victims in physical, social and emotional forms.
According to Sudbury (2014), physical violence was in the form of physical, emotional and

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sexual abuse leading to trauma and depression among the victims. It was an effect of the
frustration and anger among the male members of the indigenous society, as they could not
fight against social inequalities in the past, which resulted in economic disadvantage.
Fig: Percentage of domestic violence faced by the indigenous community
Source: (Basu 2018)
Further analysis has focused on the lack of self- esteem and lowered confidence level
among the victims of family violence. The nature and outcome of family violence is different
among the Aboriginal community in comparison to the rest of the population in Australia. The
forms of domestic violence include- forceful removal of the children from their family and out
casting them from their traditional culture, severe levels of poverty and social difference in
comparison to other population groups in Australia. Other impacts of domestic violence included
mental depression, suicidal ideas, drug abuse and trauma (Karskens 2017).

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5. Recommendations
From the discussion and analysis of the research findings on the issue of domestic violence
faced by the indigenous community of Australia it can be recommended that, the NGO has
taken a unique approach for resolving the issue. Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited has
provided wide range of service in the form of teaching and education programs for the victims. It
can be suggested in this respect that they should enhance their service by arranging for a visit
to the victims’ house at regular interval. It would be effective in motivating and encouraging the
victims to share their instances and the offender in the family will not dare to continue such
activities in the future. In addition, it can be said that the NGO should appoint voluntary
members for their organization from the house of the victims so that the offenders do not get the
courage to commit such crimes.
It was found out from the research paper that Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited
has only worked with the victims for finding effective solution to this specific problem. It will be
better if they introduce rehabilitating course and therapy for the offenders too. Previous literature
has focused on the fact that the occurrence of such incidents have resulted from frustration,
anger and depression of the male members of the indigenous society due to their inability to
fight against the breakdown of family bonds in the past. Therefore, it can be suggested that if
they are given psychological therapy on the part of the NGO, then they will be able to cope up
with the negative influence. The rehabilitation courses will be aimed at providing a holistic
approach to eradicate the issue of domestic violence on the indigenous community. The
teaching and learning process will be conducted within a funny and joyous surrounding to allow
free flow of emotions. Both the victims and the offenders will be allowed to speak up their views
and thought o the platform. Music will play a role in providing a soothing effect and allow them to
delve deep into thinking process. It can be suggested that this integrated approach will be
effective in mitigating the negative influence from the offenders and they will try to come away

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from the heinous act of family violence. It will pave the way for a healthy society for the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
6. Conclusion
It can be concluded from this research paper that the activities of domestic violence is
continuing as an impact of experiences gone bad. Analysis of several literatures has focused on
the issue of family violence among the indigenous community of Australia, which was compared
to be higher than the rest of the population in the same area. The underlying reason behind this
was found to be the fear of the victims in complaining against the offenders. They were afraid to
lodge complaint as the offenders included family members and acquaintance. It enhanced this
brutal violence in the form of threatening and blackmailing the victims. The nature of violence
differed between the indigenous community and the other population groups in Australia.
Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited played a major role in removing this black spot from
the heart of the society. They have initiated holistic approach to teach the victims of violence
and encourage them for reporting against the issue. Education was imparted among the victims
who were mostly women and children to fight against domestic violence. Statistics have proved
that the rate of domestic violence is highest among the indigenous community in comparison to
other population groups in Australia. They were motivated to muster courage and stand united
against the brutal violence. A recommendation provided at the end of this research paper
suggested that, in addition to teaching the victims, the offenders need lessons too. It will be
helpful in removing the negative influence from them so that they could lead a healthy life.
Curing the offenders from the sick mentality will lead to reducing of domestic violence among
the Aboriginal women and children in Australia.

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