Domestic Violence in Australia: A Comprehensive Analysis of Issues

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of domestic violence in Australia, exploring its definition, prevalence, and various forms, including physical, economic, psychological, sexual, and emotional abuse. It highlights the alarming rates of domestic violence, particularly against women, and discusses the social, community, and individual impacts. The essay examines the causes, including controlling behaviors, gender norms, and societal acceptance of violence, as well as the factors that contribute to violence against men. It also addresses the consequences, such as injury, death, homelessness, and workplace issues. The essay further delves into the government's strategies for tackling domestic violence and the need for integrated approaches. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of treating domestic violence as a serious crime and implementing effective crime management and risk mitigation strategies.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA
Domestic violence in Australia
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................1
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................2

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Introduction:
Domestic violence is a type of behavior that intends to gain control and power over any
intimate family members such as spouse and partners. Such behavior is prevalent not only in
middle and lower classes but among prominent people as well. According to Family Act 1975,
domestic violence in Australia is defined by the, as threatening, violent and any other behavior
that coerces and control members of family person (Humphreys & Bradbury, 2015). Such act of
violence occurs in a domestic setting between people having intimate relationships. In Australia,
domestic violence is known with different names such as domestic abuse and family violence.
Discussion:
Domestic violence is the pressing issue, of Australia that is increasing at an alarming rate,
and has reached epidemic proportion. One of the widespread and serious problems that are
recognized in country such as Australia is violence against women with enormous social cost and
community and individual impacts. Violence against women in Australia is known by different
names such as sexual harassment, intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Domestic
violence against women is not always and only physical. It involves economic, psychological,
abuse, sexual and emotional violence and a wide range of intimidating, controlling and coercive
behaviors (Phillips & Vandenbroek, 2014). Different women experiences violence differently.
Women in Torres Strait islander and aboriginal areas experience various forms of violence and at
higher rates compared to other women. In Australia, former and current partner kills at least one
woman. One of the largest drivers of homelessness for women is family or domestic violence in
Australia. Over 300000 women in Australia often experience sexual violence every year
(abs.gov.au, 2018). Violence among women in Australia has a disturbing high rate and there is a

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strong focus on domestic and family violence as indicated by public and policy discussions. In
some jurisdictions, stalking behaviors are considered as an act of violence. Nevertheless, true
extent of problems is difficult to measure because most of domestic violence goes unreported
and private nature of relationship within which violence is occurring.
The changing attitude around domestic violence has received a huge push but there is not
any reduction in numbers. Furthermore, there are several risks associated with domestic violence
incidence and perpetrators. Family and domestic violence has distinguished characteristics in
terms of variety of relationship. Various drivers for violence amongst women is associated with
men controlling decision making, acceptance of violence of men against women, limiting
independence of women in private and public life, gender norms, decision controlling by men
and interactions between them that are disrespectful and aggressive towards women. Moreover,
violence have also been experienced by women against women and thereby increasing severity
and likelihood of domestic violence. The factors that are responsible for violence against men
are discrimination, substance and use of alcohol, exposure to violence, lacking knowledge about
Australian violence laws, religious and cultural practices and loss of community support system
(Othman et al., 2014). For women under 45 years of age, the leading cause of their injury and
death is domestic violence
Domestic violence in Australia is also a growing workplace conditions and the situations
of domestic violence is dealt by paid time off for workers. Such situations involve resettling pets
or children, being forced to leave home and get finances for psychological or medical help. In
addition to this, domestic violence has become a workplace issue because when an employee is
living with family and domestic violence have negative impacts and incur real cost to workplace.
It has been found as per study conducted national research organization that intimate partner

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violence accounted for 5.1% of disease burden amongst women aged between eighteen to forty
four years. Such violence among women endures mental health problems in survivors and
victims’. Women experiencing domestic and family violence are at the risk of discrimination
both at the workplace along with other areas of lives such as goods and services provisions. The
leading contributor to death, disability and illness among women results from intimate partner
violence (Owen & Carrington, 2015).
The principal cause of homelessness for children and women in country is family and
domestic violence. Due to prevalence of family violence, girls and indigenous women are thirty
five times more likely to be hospitalized. It has been estimated that the combined administration,
health and social welfare cost of violence against women stands at $ 12.7 billion a year.
However, it has been projected that over the period of thirty years that is from 2014-2015 to
2044-55 cost will accumulate to $ 323.4 billion if no further is taken for preventing violence
against women (abs.gov.au, 2018). Violence is likely to be suffered by women with disabilities
as indicated by growing evidences. Risk of domestic violence is likely to increase because of
victim’s experience of pregnancy, child abuse and separation drug use and perpetrators alcohol.
Other factors that are strongly correlated with violence against women involve lack of social
support, personal and financial stress. Family and domestic violence is introduced as a protected
attitude within the existing law of anti discrimination (Salter, 2014).
For tackling domestic violence in Australia, government has adopted a wide variety of
strategies. However, many of the strategies adopted have been ongoing, but there is lack of
reliable evidence that would help in working of such strategies. Issues related to such violence
can be effectively addressed if an integrated approach is used and should be sustained by
findings from government (Wendt et al., 2015).

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Conclusion:
It is required by Australian government to respond and treat domestic violence as threat
of serious crime and should be dealt with crime management and risk mitigation strategies. For
investigation of crime related to domestic violence, there should be dedicated taskforces in each
state. Order system relating to domestic violence should be considered seriously by government
of Australia facilitating the fact that victims should not be considered by jurisdictional
boundaries. Incidences of domestic violence have been increasing at an alarming rate and
government is required to formulate strategies for dealing with such violence.

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References list:
Crime and Justice - Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 March 2018,
from http://www.abs.gov.au/Crime-and-Justice
Humphreys, C., & Bradbury‐Jones, C. (2015). Domestic abuse and safeguarding children: Focus,
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Owen, S., & Carrington, K. (2015). Domestic violence (DV) service provision and the
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Phillips, J., & Vandenbroek, P. (2014). Domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia: an
overview of the issues. Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliamentary Library.
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Salter, M. (2014). Multi-perpetrator domestic violence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15(2), 102-
112.
Wendt, S., Buchanan, F., & Moulding, N. (2015). Mothering and domestic violence: Situating
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