Women's Safety
CONTACT
Assistant Director
Social Analysis and Reporting
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Telephone (02) 6252 6214
Facsimile (02) 6252 6870
DESCRIPTION
This survey provides information on women's safety at home and in the community and, in particular, on the nature and extent of violence against women in Australia. It provides information about experiences of physical and sexual violence (by a man or woman) which could have led to prosecution as a crime under State and Territory laws. This survey was funded by the Office of the Status of Women and the then Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services (now the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care).
Data from this survey can be used to set benchmarks for the incidence of violence against women in Australia and to develop and evaluate policies and programs to prevent violence. Information on violence against women perpetrated by current partners is available from this survey, which provides an insight into this form of family breakdown.
SCOPE
All women aged 18 years and over in private dwellings except members of the permanent Australian defence forces, certain diplomatic personnel of overseas governments, members of non-Australian defence forces (and their dependants) stationed in Australia and overseas residents visiting Australia. The survey is conducted in both urban and rural areas in all States and Territories, but excludes persons living in some remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Women's Safety, Australia 1996 (cat. no. 4128.0)
Women's Safety, User Guide, Australia 1996 (cat. no. 4129.0).
Related publications
Crime and Safety, Australia 1998 (cat. no. 4509.0)
Recorded Crime 1998 (cat. no. 4510.0)
Crime and Safety, New South Wales 1995 (cat. no. 4509.1)
Crime and Safety, South Australia 1995 (cat. no. 4509.4)
Crime and Safety, Victoria 1995 (cat. no. 4509.2)
Crime and Safety, Western Australia 1995 (cat. no. 4509.5)
Information Paper: National Crime Statistics 1993 (cat. no. 4511.0), discontinued.
Data Service
Customised unpublished data are available in a variety of formats.
Women's Safety Survey, Unit Record File, Australia (cat. no. 4128.0.15.001).
Data Details
Data are available at person level only.
Demographic and Family Information
Age
Social marital status
Family type
Household type
Cultural and language indicators
Birthplace
Birthplace of mother
Birthplace of father
Whether woman or her parent(s) were born in a non-English speaking country
Year of arrival in Australia
Indigenous status
Violence or threat of violence
Sexual threat and assault
Physical assault
Type and frequency of physical violence
Relationship to male or female perpetrator
Location
Involvement of alcohol
Whether abused as a child
Actions taken
Police and court involvement
Advice or support sought
Professional help sought
Consequences of violence
Fear
Time off work
Physical injury and type
Changes to daily life
Partner violence
Type and frequency
Emotional abuse
Violence during pregnancy
Whether violence witnessed by children
General safety
Stalking by men
Harassment
Other selected topics
Employment
Income
Education
Socioeconomic index of relative disadvantage
Note: Due to sample size, this survey cannot provide reliable information about the levels of violance experienced by Indigenous women.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia, States, Territories and capital city/balance of State.
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular. Latest survey 1996.
METHOD OF COLLECTION
Special Social Survey. Households were selected at random, Australia wide. Approximately 6,300 women were interviewed. Responses were mostly obtained by personal interview and participation was voluntary.
HISTORICAL DATA
While this was the first survey of women's safety, regular surveys of crime and safety are conducted in various States. This survey might be changed to a twelve-yearly Survey of Violence Against Persons.
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