Media Release: 23 October 2003

MEASURING THE TIDES OF VIOLENCE IN THE WESTERN REGION

A new report to be launched at 5pm, Tuesday 28 October at Women's Health West is the most comprehensive compilation of family violence data ever produced for the Western Region.

Drawing on data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics, the police, courts, crisis and other services, Measuring the Tides of Violence paints a detailed picture of the extent, nature and unique characteristics of family violence in the Western Region.

"This report will be invaluable for community services, funding bodies, media and anyone concerned about family violence," says Women's Health West CEO Melissa Afentoulis. "Comprehensive, up-to-data is an essential tool for raising public awareness, improving services coordination and advocating for better services."

Measuring the Tides highlights a number of emerging issues, including:

despite 30 years of work against family violence, rates of men assaulting their wives/partners and children have not decreased. According to police data, reports of family violence in the Western Region rose by 10.3 percent in 2000-2001.
pregnant women are at higher risk of increased levels of violence by their male partners
children whose mothers are hurt by their male partner are also victims of violence, whether through direct assault or the trauma of witnessing assaults on their mother
anecdotal evidence from crisis workers shows that men who use violence are increasingly using weapons such as knives
anecdotal evidence also reveals that men's violence is becoming more severe, and is occurring more in public spaces, in front of witnesses other than the children
women and children victims whose first language is not English are disadvantaged by: difficulty accessing services due to language and cultural barriers; not knowing their rights; unwillingness to report to the police because they are worried about what will happen to them, their children or the perpetrator; and sometimes the fear of being shamed in often small, close-knit communities

"Ironically, one of the most important aspects of the report is what is not in there," says Ms Afentoulis. "We know from ABS data that 80 percent of women who experience some form of violence do not report it to the police. So despite the grim statistics and stories contained in Measuring the Tides, we know that it still represents just the tip of the iceberg."

"One assault against a woman or child is too many. The shocking statistics in this report highlight our failure as a society to challenge the underlying causes of family violence: the still too-common belief that men have the right to hurt their wives, partners or children. Over-stretched services need more resources to deal with family violence, better data collection to help us plan and coordinate services, and more research into solutions to family violence. Most of all we need real leadership from State and Federal governments and for the community to change those attitudes that contribute to too many men continuing to use violence."

Measuring the Tides was produced by Women's Health West and the Western Region Network Against Family Violence. It will be launched by Terry Snedden, DHS Acting Regional Manager of Community Care and Judith Arnott, a survivor of family violence whose personal story is contained in the report.

FIND OUT MORE about our research on family violence.

MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact our Chief Executive Officer Melissa Afentoulis or our Communications Officer on 9689 9588 or via email.