Disability and Crime

Most people with disability (89%) who experienced card fraud had money withdrawn or used in the most recent incident, including 15% who had more than $1,000 withdrawn or used. The results were similar for people without disability. 

Nearly all people with disability who experienced card fraud (97% or 683,200) notified (or were notified by) an authority about the most recent incident. The figure was similar for people without disability (98%). 

Both people with and without disability most commonly notified their bank or financial institution. However, people with disability were more likely to report the incident to the police (6.4%) than people without disability (3.4%).

People with disability who experienced card fraud were less likely to receive a full reimbursement in the most recent incident (67%) compared with people without disability (75%). 

Most people with and without disability who experienced a scam in the 12 months prior to the survey experienced only one type of scam (89% and 93%).

The most common types of scams experienced by people with disability were: 

• buying or selling scams (52% or 138,600)
• information request or phishing scams (18% or 48,000)
• upfront payment scams (15% or 38,800)
• financial advice scams (12% or 32,900).

Both people with and without disability were most likely to experience a buying and selling scam in the 12 months prior to survey. However, the rate was higher for people with disability than people without disability (52% compared to 41%).

Of people with disability who experienced a scam, 71% notified (or were notified by) an authority about the most serious incident, most commonly, a bank or financial institution (57%). The figures were similar for people without disability.

Of the 152,500 people with disability who experienced physical assault, over half experienced more than one incident, including:

• 27% who experienced 2 to 4 incidents
• 26% who experienced 5 or more incidents. 

Approximately 45% experienced one incident, which was similar to people without disability. 

In the most recent incident of physical assault, people with disability were more likely to have experienced assault by a person they know (64%) than by a stranger (35%). 

In contrast, people without disability were about as likely to have experienced physical assault by a stranger (48%) as by a known person (50%). 

People with disability were more likely to experience their most recent physical assault by a family member or intimate partner (29%) than people without disability (18%). 

Both people with and without disability were more likely to have experienced their most recent incident of physical assault by a male perpetrator than by a female. 

People with disability who experienced physical assault were equally as likely to experience their most recent incident in a residential location (50%) as in a non-residential location (50%).

In contrast, people without disability were more likely to experience physical assault in a non-residential location (77%).

Of the people with disability who experienced physical assault, just over half (53% or 80,400) reported the most recent incident to police. This was similar to the physical assault police reporting rate for people without disability (48%).

Approximately half of the people with disability who experienced physical assault were physically injured in the most recent incident (47% or 72,200), with 15% (23,000) seeking medical attention for their injuries. 

People without disability who experienced physical assault were less likely to be physically injured in the most recent incident (35% or 72,800).

Of the 187,900 people with disability who experienced face-to-face threatened assault, 62% experienced multiple incidents:

• 35% (66,000) experienced 2 to 4 incidents
• 14% (*25,600) experienced 5 to 9 incidents
• 14% (25,700) experienced 10 or more incidents. 

Approximately 36% (66,900) experienced one incident, which was similar to people without disability (40%).

People with disability were more likely to have experienced the most recent incident of face-to-face threatened assault by a person they know (57% or 105,900) than by a stranger (43%).

In contrast, people without disability were about as likely to have experienced face-to-face threatened assault by a stranger (49%) as by a known person (51%). 

Both people with and without disability were more likely to have experienced face-to-face threatened assault by a male perpetrator than by a female perpetrator in the most recent incident. 

Both people with and without disability were more likely to experience their most recent incident of face-to-face threatened assault in a non-residential location.

Of the people with disability who experienced face-to-face threatened assault, 42% reported the most recent incident to police. This was similar to the face-to-face threatened assault police reporting rate for people without disability (37%).

Of the estimated 179,900 people with disability who experienced physical abuse: 

• 15% (26,400) experienced high severity physical abuse
• 48% (85,400) were restrained or handled roughly
• 87% (156,700) experienced another form of physical abuse.

Of the estimated 366,100 people with disability who experienced emotional abuse, 81% experienced emotional abuse more than once in the last 12 months: 

• 18% experienced it all or most of the time
• 65% experienced it some or a little of the time. 

Of women with disability who experienced sexual harassment in the 12 months prior to the 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey:

• 68% (312,900) experienced inappropriate comments about their body or sex life
• 44% (203,800) received an indecent email, text or post
• 36% (164,400) experienced unwanted touching, grabbing, kissing or fondling
• 22% (98,500) were exposed to pictures, videos or other materials which were sexual in nature,
• 14% (62,000) experienced an indecent phone call
• 12% (54,800) experienced indecent exposure
• *4.9% (*22,400) had pictures or videos of themselves, which were sexual in nature, distributed or posted without their consent.

Women with disability (68%) were more likely than women without disability (61%) to have experienced inappropriate comments about their body or sex life. 

Other sexual harassment behaviour rates were similar between women with disability and without disability. 

Over half of women with disability who experienced sexual harassment experienced multiple sexual harassment behaviours and were more likely to experience four or more behaviours (14%) compared with women without disability (6.5%). 

Women with disability who experienced sexual harassment were more likely to experience harassment by a person they know (68%) than by a stranger (52%). 

In contrast, women without disability were about as likely to have experienced sexual harassment by a stranger (57%) as by a known person (60%). 

Women with disability were more likely to experience sexual harassment by an acquaintance or neighbour (25%) than women without disability (16%). 

Both women with and without disability were more likely to experience sexual harassment by a male perpetrator than by a female perpetrator.

Of women with disability who experienced sexual harassment, over two-thirds (69%) experienced sexual harassment face-to-face and 57% experienced sexual harassment electronically. 

This was similar for women without disability. 

Both women with and without disability were more likely to experience sexual harassment in a non-residential location than a residential location. 

However, women with disability were more likely to experience sexual harassment in a residential location (26%) than women without disability (17%).

Almost all women who experienced violence by a previous partner experienced violence by a male perpetrator (96% of women with disability and 96% of women without disability).

Most women with disability who experienced violence by a previous partner experienced more than one incident of violence throughout their relationship (78%). 

This was similar for women without disability (73%). 

Most women with disability who experienced violence by a previous partner sought advice or support due to the violence at some point during their relationship (70%).

This was similar for women without disability (77%).

Women with disability were more likely to seek advice about the violence from a formal source (62%) than women without disability (43%).

Common formal sources of advice or support sought by women with disability were: 

• counsellor or support worker (35%)
• general practitioner (31%).

Of the women with disability who experienced violence by a previous partner, 41% contacted the police about the violence at some point during their relationship, while for women without disability it was one-third (32%). 

Note: While there may appear to be a difference between women with and without disability for police reporting, when the sampling error of these estimates is taken into consideration the difference in these estimates is not statistically significant. 

The majority of women who experienced violence by a previous partner experienced anxiety or fear for their personal safety at some point during their relationship (88% of women with disability and 80% of women without disability).

Almost all women who experienced emotional abuse by a previous partner experienced abuse by a male perpetrator (96% of both women with and without disability).

For this publication, emotional abuse behaviours have been classified into three broad groups: controlling social behaviours, controlling economic behaviours, and threatening or degrading behaviours. 

For data about specific behaviour types refer to the data downloads.

Of women with disability who experienced emotional abuse by their previous partner:

• 94% (191,300) said their relationship included threatening or degrading behaviours
• 73% (149,000) said their relationship included controlling social behaviours
• 73% (148,800) said their relationship included controlling economic behaviours.

Women with disability were more likely to have experienced controlling economic behaviours during their relationship (73%) than women without disability (59%).

The PSS asks about experiences of twenty emotionally abusive behaviours.

Women with disability who experienced emotional abuse by a previous partner were more likely to have experienced eleven or more emotional abusive behaviours during their relationship (31%) than women without disability (17%).

Almost all women who experienced emotional abuse by a previous partner experienced abuse more than once throughout their relationship (98% of women with disability and 96% of women without disability).

Women with disability were more likely to experience emotional abuse all or most of the time throughout the course of their relationship (58%), compared with women without disability (45%).

The majority of women who experienced emotional abuse by a previous partner experienced anxiety or fear due to the emotional abuse at some point during their relationship, including 87% of women with disability and 82% of women without disability.

Approximately 55% of the women with disability who experienced emotional abuse by their previous partner were also assaulted or threatened with assault by their partner at some point during their relationship. For women without disability, the figure was 45%. 

Note: While there may appear to be a difference between women with and without disability, when the sampling error of these estimates is taken into consideration the differences in these estimates are not statistically significant. 

Almost all women who experienced economic abuse by a previous partner experienced abuse by a male perpetrator (96% of women with disability and 99% of women without disability).

For this publication, the economic abuse behaviours have been classified into three broad groups: economic restriction behaviours, economic exploitation behaviours, and economic sabotage behaviours. 

For data about specific behaviour types refer to the data downloads.

Of the 172,700 women with disability who experienced economic abuse by their previous partner:

• 83% said their relationship included economic sabotage behaviours
• 76% said their relationship included economic restriction behaviours
• 51% said their relationship included economic exploitation behaviours.

Women with disability were more likely to have experienced economic exploitation behaviours during their relationship (51%) than women without disability (36%).

The PSS asks about experiences of fourteen economically abusive behaviours. 

Women with disability who experienced economic abuse by a previous partner were more likely to have experienced seven or more economic abuse behaviours during their relationship (29%) than women without disability (17%).

People residing in institutional settings are not included in this report. This includes people with disability living in hospitals, nursing homes, aged care hostels, and other cared-accommodation.

The 2022 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) estimated that 180,500 people with disability live in cared-accommodation. This equates to 3.3% of all people with disability in Australia.

Collecting sensitive survey data on experiences of violence, abuse and fraud directly from people with disability living in cared accommodation presents a number of challenges. It would require the cooperation and authorisation of accommodation administrators, as the information collected may have legal ramifications. Consent would also need to be sought from legal guardians and carers where relevant regarding the participation of people they are responsible for, who may have reason to refuse to provide consent.

Furthermore, some respondents may be reluctant to disclose any incidents of violence, abuse, neglect or fraud that they have experienced within the cared-accommodation facility, out of a fear for their safety or due to explicit threats and intimidation.

The surveys included in this report use similar terminology to describe violent and abusive behaviours. However, differences in methodology and definitions across the surveys mean that the data are not directly comparable and should instead be used as complementary sources of information.

Below is a list of selected terms from SDAC used in this publication. For a full list of definitions, please refer to the SDAC methodology.

In this survey, a person has a disability if they report they have a limitation, restriction or impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months and restricts everyday activities. This includes: 

• loss of sight (not corrected by glasses or contact lenses)
• loss of hearing where communication is restricted, or an aid to assist with, or substitute for, hearing is used
• speech difficulties
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties causing restriction
• chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort causing restriction
• blackouts, seizures, or loss of consciousness
• difficulty learning or understanding
• incomplete use of arms or fingers
• difficulty gripping or holding things
• incomplete use of feet or legs
• nervous or emotional condition causing restriction
• restriction in physical activities or in doing physical work
• disfigurement or deformity causing restriction
• mental illness or condition requiring help or supervision
• memory problems or periods of confusion causing restriction
• social or behavioural difficulties causing restriction
• long-term effects of head injury, stroke or other acquired brain injury causing restriction
• receiving treatment or medication for any other long-term conditions or ailments and still being restricted
• any other long-term conditions resulting in a restriction.

Disabilities can be broadly grouped depending on whether they relate to functioning of the mind or the senses, or to anatomy or physiology. Disability groups may refer to a single disability or a number of broadly similar disabilities. The SDAC questions were designed to identify six separate groups based on the particular type of disability identified.

These groups are:

• Sensory
  • loss of sight (not corrected by glasses or contact lenses)
  • loss of hearing where communication is restricted or an aid is used
  • speech difficulties.
• Learning and understanding
  • difficulty learning or understanding things.
• Physical
  • shortness of breath or breathing difficulties that restrict everyday activities
  • blackouts, seizures or loss of consciousness
  • chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort that restricts everyday activities
  • incomplete use of arms or fingers
  • difficulty gripping or holding things
  • incomplete use of feet or legs
  • restriction in physical activities or in doing physical work
  • disfigurement or deformity that restricts everyday activities.
• Psychosocial
  • nervous or emotional condition that restricts everyday activities
  • mental illness or condition requiring help or supervision
  • memory problems or periods of confusion that restrict everyday activities
  • social or behavioural difficulties that restrict everyday activities.
• Head Injury, stroke or acquired brain injury
  • head injury, stroke or other acquired brain injury with long-term effects that restrict everyday activities.
• Other
  • receiving treatment or medication for any other long-term conditions or ailments and still restricted in everyday activities
  • any other long-term conditions resulting in a restriction in everyday activities.

Behaviours or actions that are aimed at preventing or controlling a person’s behaviour, causing them emotional harm or fear. 

Includes where a person has:

• shouted, yelled or verbally abused you to intimidate you
• constantly insulted you to make you feel ashamed, belittled or humiliated (e.g. put downs)
• controlled or tried to control you from contacting family, friends or community
• controlled or tried to control where you went or who you saw
• controlled or tried to control you from knowing about, having access to or making decisions about household money
• controlled or tried to control your income or assets
• deprived you of basic needs such as food, shelter, sleep or assistive aids
• lied to family members or friends with the intent of turning them against you
• damaged, destroyed or stole any of your property
• forced you to do something against your will
• excluded you or ignored you.

A person is included in the 'Living in households' population if they are part of a household and reside in a private dwelling or self-care retirement village. A person living in cared-accommodation is excluded from the 'Living in households' population. 

Refers to situations where a person responsible for helping with daily activities chose not to provide help when it was needed.

Includes where a person has done any of these things:

• thrown anything at you that could hurt you
• pushed, grabbed or shoved you
• slapped you
• kicked, bitten or hit you with a fist
• hit you with something else that could hurt you
• restrained you or held you down
• handled you roughly enough to cause a fall or bruise
• beaten you
• choked you
• stabbed you with a knife
• shot you with a gun.

Any verbal and/or physical threat to inflict physical harm, made face-to-face, where the person being threatened believed the threat was likely and able to be carried out. 

Any respondent who reported that they have a limitation, restriction or impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months and restricts everyday activities. 

Any threat to inflict physical harm where the person being threatened believed the threat was likely and able to be carried out, and where they did not encounter the perpetrator face-to-face (e.g. via telephone, text message, email, in writing or through social media).

An act of physical force or violence committed by a perpetrator(s) against another person. Examples of physical force or violence include being beaten, pushed, grabbed, shoved, slapped, hit with an open hand or fist, kicked, bitten, choked, stabbed, shot, burnt, being hit with something such as a bat or being dragged or hit deliberately by a vehicle. Includes assault that occurred while the person was at work. 

Includes someone the person lives with, or lived with at some point, in a married or de facto relationship. This may also be described as a co-habiting partner.

Relationship to perpetrator refers to the relationship of the perpetrator(s) to the person at the time of the interview, as perceived by the person who the violence or abuse was directed against.

In the PSS, a person has a disability if they report they have a limitation, restriction or impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months and restricts everyday activities.

Economic abuse occurs when a person is subjected to certain behaviours or actions that are aimed at preventing or controlling their access to economic resources, causing them emotional harm or fear. These behaviours are characterised in nature by their intent to manipulate, control, isolate or intimidate the person they are aimed at, and are generally repeated.

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. These behaviours are characterised in nature by their intent to manipulate, control, isolate or intimidate the person they are aimed at. They are generally repeated behaviours and include psychological, social, economic and verbal abuse.

Someone who the person lived with at some point in a married or de facto relationship, whom they are now separated, divorced or widowed from.

Sexual harassment is considered to have occurred when a person has experienced or been subjected to behaviours which made them feel uncomfortable and were offensive due to their sexual nature. 

In the PSS, violence is defined as any incident involving the occurrence, attempt or threat of either sexual or physical assault. Violence can be broken down into two main categories: sexual violence and physical violence.

Card fraud involves the use of credit, debit, or EFTPOS card, or card details, to make purchases or withdraw cash without the account owner's permission.

Identity theft is the use of someone's personal details in stolen, fraudulent or forged documents without permission, or otherwise illegally appropriating another's identity.

Where someone’s personal details have been purposefully misused to impersonate them online without their permission. This includes incidents where someone pretended to be someone else and either posted content or interacted with others. 

A scam is a fraudulent invitation, request, notification or offer, designed to obtain personal information or money or otherwise obtain a financial benefit by deceptive means.

A person is considered to have experienced a scam if, after being exposed to the scam, they sought further information, provided money or personal information, or accessed links associated with the scam.