1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/09/2010   
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Crime

Victims of sexual assault(a)(b) - 2008-09
Graph Image for Victims of sexual assault(a)(b) - 2008-09

Footnote(s): (a) Persons aged 18 years and over. (b) Reported as occurring in the 12 months prior to interview. (c) Estimates for people aged 45-54 and 55 and over have a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

Source(s): ABS Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2008-09 (cat. no. 4530.0)

SEXUAL ASSAULT

The social, psychological and physical effects of sexual assault on individuals and families can be severe, and sexual assault remains one of the most underreported of all personal crimes (AIFS 2010). There are a number of personal, social, cultural and institutional barriers that may prevent people reporting incidents to the police or reporting incidents in surveys, therefore, it is likely that survey reported victimisation rates underestimate the true incidence of sexual assault.

In 2008-09, 52,500 (0.3%) Australians aged 18 years and over reported in the survey that they were victims of at least one sexual assault, with most of these victims being women (78%).

Younger people were more likely to be victims of sexual assault than older people. Of those aged 18-24 years or 25-34 years, 0.6% reported in the survey that they were victims of at least one sexual assault in 2008-09.

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