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FNAAFVFNAAFVFirst Nations Advocates Against Family Violence
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FNAAFV acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Learn About Family Violence

Domestic violence and family violence

Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and often refers to violence in the home and in intimate relationships.

The term ‘family violence’ is broader and recognises the complex kinship of First Nations people. It includes violence between couples of the same or different sexes, and between other family members — such as against children, aunties, or Elders.

Domestic violence is a form of family violence (Morgan and Chadwick 2009).

What family violence can include

Family violence is one of the most complex human rights abuses affecting First Nations people. The prevalence, severity and consequences of family violence affecting First Nations people justifies the urgent implementation of the recommendations of the National FVPLS Forum. Family violence can include:

  • physical or sexual assault
  • stalking or harassment
  • emotional or psychological intimidation and abuse
  • denying a person their freedom
  • damage or destruction of property
  • causing injury or death to an animal
  • denying financial support or freedom
  • preventing a person having other relationships and friendships

Domestic violence might be a single incident, or a pattern of behaviour which is violent, threatening, coercive or controlling. It also includes situations where children or young people witness violence or its effects.



Disproportionate rates of family violence affecting First Nations people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are one of the ‘most at-risk groups’ for family, domestic and sexual violence, and 3 in 5 have experienced physical or sexual violence.

First Nations women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than other women in Australia, and 11 times more likely to die due to assault (AIHW 2019, p.113). These homicides are commonly preceded by repeated contact by the perpetrator with police and the courts.

34x
Higher rate of hospitalisation for family violence than non-Indigenous women.
3 in 5
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced physical or sexual violence.
88%
Of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care have a family-violence background.

The consequences are extensive, intergenerational and costly

Children in care

Family violence is the primary driver of First Nations children into out-of-home care, and 88% of Aboriginal children in care have experienced family violence.

Health

Family violence has been associated with negative health impacts for women and children, including higher rates of injuries from weapons, miscarriage, pre-term birth and low birthweight, and other long-term health consequences (AIHW 2019, p.115).

Trauma

First Nations women who experience family violence are more likely to have a mental health condition, and to experience psychological distress, PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicide and drug and alcohol abuse — and these can also be suffered by their children.

Incarceration

First Nations women are increasingly mis-identified as offenders in family violence incidents, fuelling rates of incarceration.

Homelessness

First Nations women and their children are at risk of homelessness when escaping family violence.

The scale and consequences of family violence are much greater than this, as some studies estimate that 90% of violence against First Nations women is not disclosed. First Nations women risk losing their children, their housing and their lives when escaping family violence, and often do not report family violence or seek support because of a lack of trust in police, shame, the risk of retribution, fear of losing their children and housing, and fear that their partner may go to prison.

What are the risk factors?

Gender

More than 80% of First Nations victim-survivors of physical and sexual assaults are female.

Physical abuse

Almost 80% of physical assaults are against First Nations people aged 20 to 54 years — an age group likely to have children.

Sexual abuse of children and young people

About 80% of sexual assault victims were aged between 0–19 years, causing life-long effects on the future of these young people.

Rural and remote

Rates of violence against First Nations women are up to 80 times worse than other women in some rural and remote areas.

Inadequate services

Service mapping shows that regional and remote areas with high need have the fewest services available to First Nations victim-survivors.

Disability

Rates of family violence are higher for people who live with a disability.

Alcohol and drugs

First Nations people reported alcohol or other substances contributed to their most recent experience of physical violence (70% of males and 67% of females), and this was higher in remote areas (76% compared to 65%).

Government's response and Closing the Gap

FNAAFV is a founding member of the national Coalition of Peaks, which works with Government to Close the Gap on the inequity affecting First Nations people. Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap was introduced in 2020 and states that:

“By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced at least by 50%, as progress towards zero.”

Closing the Gap — Target 13

Target 13 has been agreed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

The Australian Government announced that Target 13 would be implemented by a five-year Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan (2022–2027), forming part of the over-arching National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032. Read FNAAFV’s response to the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.

References

A number of these statistics are drawn from the ABS Recorded Crime — Victims.