Socio-economic outcome area 13

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and households are safe

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Driver

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reporting family violence is common in their communities

Dashboard snapshot: The data below are the most recent at the time of preparing the July 2023 report. Please go to the dashboard to access the current data.

There is currently no nationally representative data available on the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reporting that family violence is common in their communities. In 2017, the National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) included a question asking respondents if they thought violence against women is ‘common in our community’. Of the 48 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across Australia who were asked this question, 45 reported it is common (94 per cent). Due to the small sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women surveyed, these results cannot be used to draw reliable conclusions at the national level.

Indicator data specifications

Indicator SE13d: Women reporting family violence is common in their communities

Related outcome:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and households are safe.

Related target:

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 per cent, as progress towards zero.

Indicator:

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reporting family violence is common in their communities.

Measure:

The measure is defined as:

Numerator — number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 16 years or over who agree that ‘violence against women is common in our community’

Denominator— number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 16 years or over

and is presented as a percentage.

Indicator established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020

Latest dashboard update for the indicator:

15 June 2023

Indicator type:

Driver

Interpretation of change:

A low or decreasing proportion is desirable, as it may indicate a lower incidence of family violence.

Data source(s):

Name: The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS)

Frequency: Periodic

Documentation (links): https://www.anrows.org.au/research-program/ncas/

Data provider:

Provider name: Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS)

Baseline year:

Not available (see data quality considerations)

Latest reporting:

Not available (see data quality considerations)

Disaggregations:

Not available

Computation:

Numerator divided by Denominator multiplied by 100

Data quality considerations:

There are currently no nationally representative data available on the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reporting that family violence is common in their communities.

The NCAS is a national survey that collects data on people’s understanding of violence against women, their attitudes towards it, what influences their attitudes, and if there has been a change over time. In 2017, the NCAS included a question asking survey participants if they agree that ‘violence against women is common’.

Due to the small sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who were asked this question (n=48), the results should not be used to draw conclusions at the national level. 

Future reporting:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander results from the 2021 NCAS.

Additional disaggregations required for future reporting:

  • National, state and territory
  • Remoteness areas and other small geographic areas (where available)
  • Disability status
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Indigenous status (comparable data on non-Indigenous people are currently not available).

The Productivity Commission acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Country and Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who have passed away.