#Engage4ChangeSA: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows extent of domestic violence across Australia

EIGHT women are admitted to hospital across the country every day following attacks by violent partners, latest data shows.

• SA Best domestic violence policies include GPS tracking of abusers
• Domestic violence leading to more homeless women across Australia

EIGHT women are admitted to hospital across Australia each day following attacks by violent partners and 52 women report a sexual assault to the police daily, a new report finds.

The figures also confirm that more than half of women in abusive relationships are subjected to multiple violent attacks.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, released today, paints a sobering picture of the extent of the social scourge — which shows no sign of abating. It finds:

ABOUT 25,500 Australian children are living homeless, or at risk of homelessness, because of family violence.

Eight women are hospitalised every day across the country following attacks by violent partners, the latest AIHW report shows.

ONE in 12 women hospitalised by a violent partner is pregnant.

INJURED women are most often attacked on the head, neck or torso, and with blunt or sharp objects.

ALCOHOL is a factor in one in three assaults on a partner, and three in 10 attacks against other family members.

ALMOST half of women do not seek any support after a violent incident.

LESS than 20 per cent of women report abuse by a current partner to police.

Among those who do make a police report, less than one-third say that their partner is subsequently charged.

In most cases which reach court (at least 72 per cent) the abuser is found guilty.

But few are made to serve any time behind bars.

Of those found guilty of an offence intended to cause harm, between 20 per cent and 36 per cent of offenders receive a custodial sentence.

Centacare Catholic Family Services director Dale West lamented that “a man killing his partner is seen as different to other murders” and therefore not treated as seriously.

“Where is the pressure for everyday perpetrators of violence towards their partners to be exposed?” he said.

One woman a week, and one man each month, is killed by a violent current or ex-partner.

For help phone 1800 RESPECT or the SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 800 098.