4906.0 - Personal Safety, Australia, 2016
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/11/2017
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KEY FINDINGS
EXPERIENCES OF VIOLENCE Prevalence of violence since the age of 15 Two in five people (39% or 7.2 million) aged 18 years and over experienced an incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, including 42% of men (3.8 million) and 37% of women (3.4 million). Four in ten men (41% or 3.7 million) and three in ten women (31% or 2.9 million) experienced physical violence. One in five women (18% or 1.7 million) and one in twenty men (4.7% or 428,800) experienced sexual violence. For a definition of violence see Endnote 1. Changes in violence prevalence rates over time The proportion of Australians experiencing violence in the last 12 months, has declined over the last decade, decreasing from 8.3% in 2005 to 5.4% in 2016. This decline was driven by a drop in experiences of physical violence, falling from 7.5% in 2005 to 4.5% in 2016. For men the proportion experiencing physical violence in the last 12 months has almost halved since 2005, decreasing from 10% in 2005 to 5.4% in 2016. For women, the proportion has fallen from 4.7% in 2005 to 3.5% in 2016. Over a shorter time period, since 2012, the proportion of men experiencing physical violence in the last 12 months decreased, falling from 8.5% in 2012 to 5.4% in 2016. The proportion of women experiencing physical violence in the last 12 months decreased from 4.6% in 2012 to 3.5% in 2016. The proportion of women experiencing sexual violence in the last 12 months has remained steady between 2005 and 2016 (1.6% in 2005 compared to 1.8% in 2016). However since 2012, there has been an increase, from 1.2% in 2012 to 1.8% in 2016. Prevalence of violence since the age of 15 - Relationship to perpetrator More than one in three Australians experienced violence by a male perpetrator since the age of 15 (36% or 6.7 million), compared to one in ten by a female perpetrator (11% or 2 million). Approximately one in four women (23% or 2.2 million) experienced violence by an intimate partner, compared to one in thirteen men (7.8% or 703,700). Endnote 2 More than one in four men (27% or 2.5 million) experienced violence by a stranger, compared to one in eleven women (9.4% or 880,800). MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED SINCE THE AGE OF 15 Detailed information was collected on the most recent incident for some types of violence, but only if the incident occurred less than 10 years prior to the survey. Men’s and women’s most recent incident of physical assault by a male
Men’s and women’s most recent incident of physical assault by a female
Women’s most recent incident of sexual assault by a male
PARTNER VIOLENCE In-depth information about men’s and women’s experience of violence by a partner since the age of 15 was collected in the PSS. Endnote 3
Changes in partner violence prevalence rates over time The proportion of women who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months has remained relatively stable over the last decade. In 2005, approximately 1.5% of women aged 18 years and over experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months, whilst in 2016 the figure was 1.7%. The proportion of men who experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months increased between 2005 and 2016. In 2005, approximately 0.4% of men aged 18 years and over experienced partner violence in the previous 12 months, whilst in 2016 the figure was 0.8%. However since the survey was last conducted in 2012, there was no significant change in the proportion of men who experienced partner violence (0.6%). PARTNER EMOTIONAL ABUSE The 2016 PSS collected information about men’s and women’s experiences of emotional abuse by a current and/or previous partner since the age of 15. Endnote 4
ABUSE BEFORE THE AGE OF 15 The 2016 PSS collected information about men’s and women’s experiences of physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 15 years by any adult (male or female), including the person’s parents.
WITNESSED VIOLENCE BEFORE THE AGE OF 15 The 2016 PSS asked respondents if they ever heard or saw violence (physical assault) being directed at one parent by another before the age of 15.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT The 2016 PSS collected information about men’s and women’s lifetime experiences of sexual harassment. Endnote 5
Changes since 2012 Endnote 6
STALKING The 2016 PSS collected information about men’s and women’s experiences of stalking since the age of 15. Endnote 7
ENDNOTES Endnote 1 The Personal Safety Survey defines violence as any incident involving the occurrence, attempt or threat of either physical or sexual assault experienced by a person since the age of 15. Endnote 2 The term ‘intimate partner’ is used to describe a current partner (living with), previous partner (lived with), boyfriend/girlfriend/date and ex-boyfriend/girlfriend (did not live with). Endnote 3 The term 'partner' is used to describe a person the respondent lives with, or lived with at some point, in a married or de facto relationship. For more information about current and previous partner definitions used in the survey refer to the Glossary in this publication. Endnote 4 Emotional abuse occurs when a person is subjected to certain behaviours or actions that are aimed at preventing or controlling their behaviour, causing them emotional harm or fear. Endnote 5 Sexual harassment is considered to have occurred when a person has experienced or been subjected to one or more selected behaviours which they found improper or unwanted, which made them feel uncomfortable, and were offensive due to their sexual nature. Endnote 6 In order to accurately capture the emerging trends in experiences of sexual harassment (such as the use of information and communications technology), new sexual harassment behaviours have been specifically included in the 2016 PSS. Although these behaviours may have previously been collected as part of other categories, this should be considered when comparing sexual harassment prevalence rates between the 2012 and 2016 iterations of the survey. Endnote 7 Stalking involves various behaviours, such as loitering and following, which the person believed were being undertaken with the intent to cause them fear or distress. To be classified as stalking more than one type of behaviour had to occur, or the same type of behaviour had to occur on more than one occasion. NOTES For more detailed information about the definitions used in the survey refer to the Glossary in this publication. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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