Violence Against Women
Why is the prevention of violence against women a priority?
Violence against women is a significant health issue for women. The health and economic costs are considerable. Women who have experienced violence are more likely to suffer from mental health issues and ongoing physical conditions 1. In Victoria:
- Violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness of women aged 15 to 44 years 1.
- One in three women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime 2.
- Women represent nearly 90% of reported rapes and 76% of reported sexual assaults 3 4.
- After financial difficulty, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness, with women and children still being forced in the majority of cases to flee the family home 5.
Men are the main perpetrators of violence against women, and predominantly men known to them 6. There are influences within Australian culture that encourage a tolerance of violence against women and discourage men from taking responsibility for their violence. This is evident in the reporting of violence, representations of women, and conviction rates for crimes involving violence against women 1.
Women’s Health Victoria is committed to the prevention of violence against women.
What we do to prevent violence against women
Women’s Health Victoria works in the primary prevention of violence, that is, we aim to prevent violence before it occurs, by influencing or eliminating the underlying determinants of violence against women.
Our current initiatives to prevent violence against women include:
Take A Stand against domestic violence workplace program
Take a stand against domestic violence: it’s everyone’s business is an Australian-first, whole-of-business program aimed at preventing violence against women, and supporting employees who are experiencing it.
For more information visit the Take A Stand website, email Take a Stand or contact Women’s Health Victoria.
Everyone’s Business professional development package
The Everyone’s Business professional development package comprises a full-day workshop, a copy of the Everyone’s Business guide and membership of a supportive practice network. Everyone’s Business provides practitioners with the necessary theoretical base and practical skills to start planning and implementing a workplace program aimed at the primary prevention of violence against women.
For further information about Everyone’s Business and other scheduled courses visit Women’s Health Victoria workshops.
Violence against women resources
Browse our publications and resources relating to violence against women.
- VicHealth (2004). The Health Costs of Violence: Measuring the Burden of Disease Caused by Intimate Partner Violence. VicHealth, Melbourne. ↩
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996). Women’s Safety Australia, Catalogue No. 4128.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. ↩
- Victoria Police (2005). Victoria Police Provisional Crime Statistics: Victims of Crime Against the Person. www.police.vic.gov.au/files/documents/615_Victims-2004-05.pdf Accessed on 26/04/2006. ↩
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005). Crime and safety, Australia. Cat. 4509.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. ↩
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005). SAAP National Data Collection Annual Report 2003-04: Victoria Supplementary Tables. www.aihw.gov.au/publications/hou/saapndcar03-04vic/saapndcar03-04vic.pdf Accessed on 26/04/2006 ↩
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005). Personal Safety Survey Australia. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. 4906.0). ↩
Content Reviewed: 26 March 2012
Last Updated: 26 March 2012