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Purpose
Description
Definition of family and domestic violence
Relationship to Defining the data challenge for family, domestic and sexual violence (cat. no. 4529.0)
Family and domestic violence related content (data items collected)
Collection methodology
Scope / Target population
Coverage
Data availability / Dissemination
Publications
Collection history
Other directory data sources held by this agency
PERSONAL SAFETY SURVEY, AUSTRALIA (PSS)
DASHBOARD METADATA
| Collection type |  | Geographic coverage | | Frequency | | Data availability |
|
| |
- National
- State/territory(all)
- City/region
| |
| |
- Detailed publication/report publicly available
- Data cubes/spreadsheets publicly available
- Customised data – charged consultancy 1
|
[1] May be subject to release conditions
DETAILED METADATA
Contact details:
PURPOSE:
| Information was collected from persons aged 18 years and over about their safety at home and in the community. In particular, it focused on measuring men’s and women’s experiences of physical and sexual violence since the age of 15, by different types of male and female perpetrators, the nature and extent of violence against women and men (with a reference period of the last 12 months), actions taken after experiencing violence and the effect on their lives. Additional information was collected about incidents of abuse, stalking and other forms of harassment. |
DESCRIPTION:
| Funding for the women's component of the 2005 Personal Safety survey was provided through the National Initiative to Combat Sexual Assault and Partnerships Against Domestic Violence - Australian Government initiatives administered by the Office for Women (OfW). The male component was funded by the ABS. |
DEFINITION OF FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
In the Personal Safety Survey, violence is defined as any incident involving the occurrence, attempt or threat of either physical or sexual assault. Physical assault involves the use of physical force with the intent to harm or frighten. An attempt or threat to inflict physical harm is included only if a person believes it is likely to be carried out. Sexual assault includes acts of a sexual nature carried out against a person's will through the use of physical force, intimidation or coercion, or any attempts to do this. Unwanted sexual touching is excluded from sexual assault. Sexual threat involves the threat of an act of a sexual nature which the person believes is likely to be carried out.
Aspects of family and domestic violence captured by the data are:
- physical violence;
- sexual violence;
- emotional abuse;
- harassment and stalking ; and
- experiences of physical and sexual abuse (before the age of 15)
|
RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINING THE DATA CHALLENGE FOR FAMILY, DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE (cat. no. 4529.0)
The summary table below is designed to indicate the amount of information available for each of the six elements outlined in
Defining the Data Challenge for Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, 2013 (cat. no. 4529.0).This is a subjective assessment made by the ABS about the data collected and is not an indication of data quality.
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED CONTENT (data items collected)
The following tables provide a detailed analysis of the availability of specified data elements in the data source. The data items have been grouped into four counting units:
1. Context;
2. Person;
3. Incident/Event; and
4. Transaction.
Tables are absent from the entry in cases where the data source contains no data items which relate to the particular counting unit/s.
Context
[1] Respondent may or may not have experienced family and domestic violence.
Person
[1] Respondent may or may not have experienced family and domestic violence.
Incident/event
[1] Data reflects whether 'alcohol or drugs' contributed. It is not possible to distinguish which substance was involved.
[2] More than one incident of abuse experienced before the age of 15; frequency of violence by a partner; how often violence occurred during relationship (current/previous partner).
[3] For most recent incident.
[4] Violence by a partner. Transaction
[1] Violence by a partner. COLLECTION METHODOLOGY
Personal face-to-face interviews were conducted with one randomly selected person aged 18 years or over who was a usual resident of the selected household.
Special steps were taken to improve the quality of the survey results including detailed and precise questioning and the use of personal interviews. Respondents were informed that the survey was not compulsory and a specific requirement was that interviews were conducted in private, thus ensuring confidentiality and safety of any information disclosed. The use of specially trained interviewers ensured that rapport could be established with respondents and that the relevant concepts and definitions could be explained as necessary.
Dwellings were selected at random using a multistage area sample of private dwellings. The initial sample selected for the survey consisted of approximately 27,000 dwellings. This was reduced to a sample of approximately 22,000 after sample loss (e.g. households selected in the survey which had no residents in scope of the survey, vacant or derelict buildings, buildings under construction).The fully responding sample was 11,800 females and 4,500 males with 76.2% of households fully or adequately responding. |
SCOPE/TARGET POPULATION
| Persons aged 18 years and over who were usual residents of randomly selected households. |
COVERAGE
One adult per selected household (private dwelling).
Both urban and rural areas in all states and territories were included but very remote areas of Australia were excluded. The following group were also excluded from the survey:
- certain diplomatic personnel of overseas governments, customarily excluded from the Population Census and estimated population figures
- overseas residents in Australia
- residents of non-private dwellings, such as hospitals, retirement villages, refuges, etc.
The PSS was conducted in both urban and rural areas in all states and territories, but excluded approximately 120,000 persons living in very remote areas of Australia who would otherwise have been within the scope of the survey. The exclusion of these persons would have only a minor impact on any aggregates that are produced for individual states and territories, except for the Northern Territory where such persons account for around 23% of the population. |
DATA AVAILABILITY / DISSEMINATION
The main publication and state/territory data cubes for selected data items can be downloaded free of charge from the ABS website.
Micro-data are available in the form of a Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF). Information about how to apply for micro-data is available on the ABS website. Additional tailored tables, providing more detail, or data items not included in the publication are available on request as a 'user pays' service. |
PUBLICATIONS
Personal Safety Survey, Australia 2005 (cat. no. 4906.0)
Micro-data: Personal Safety Survey, Expanded CURF, Australia, 2005 (cat. no. 4906.0.55.001)
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection commenced: August–December 2005
Break in series: No
Other details: Related to Women's Safety Survey, 1996.
OTHER DATA SOURCES HELD BY THIS AGENCY
Crime Victimisation, Australia
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (NATSISS)
Women's Safety Survey, Australia (WSS)
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