Monash University study: Scale of sex assaults in domestic violence relationships unknown

The true number of women being sexually abused in domestic violence relationships is unknown, research has revealed, leading to grave concerns about the true scale of the scourge.

The true number of women being sexually assaulted in domestic violence relationships is not known, research has revealed.

Services working with family violence perpetrators are failing to identify sexual violence committed against intimate partners, a damning new report has found.

New research from Monash University revealed that alarmingly one in five practitioners never – or rarely – carry out risk assessments for sexual violence during intervention programs with perpetrators of family violence.

And 40 per cent of professionals only reported risk assessing for intimate partner sexual violence perpetration somewhat or less frequently compared to other forms of family violence.

The shocking figures have led to grave concerns about the true scale of the scourge.

It is unknown how many victims – overwhelmingly women – are experiencing violence of a sexual nature from their intimate partner, but aren’t receiving support or professional help.

The study highlighted “significant gaps” in identifying, assessing and responding to intimate partner sexual violence in current work with perpetrators of abuse.

Lead author and Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre research fellow Nicola Helps said the study highlighted “significant gaps” in identifying, assessing and responding to intimate partner sexual violence in current work with perpetrators of abuse.

“The true prevalence of women experiencing intimate partner sexual violence is unknown. We know that sexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner is under-reported and recorded statistics likely hide the true extent of the problem,” Dr Helps told the Herald Sun.

“There is significant work to be done … There is an opportunity to develop training to better support practitioners to undertake this work.”

The study, conducted alongside No to Violence, also found one in four professionals hadn’t received any training about intimate partner sexual violence.

No to Violence chief executive Jacqui Watt said better training was needed.

“Unless all frontline workers are well-versed in assessing risk of sexual violence alongside family violence, we can’t assess the risk he is posing to the family,” Ms Watt said.

Victim-survivors of sexual violence are also less likely to report the crime to a service if their abuser was an intimate partner, experts say.

And women who experience sexual violence from their loved one report higher levels of shame, are more likely to have clinically significant distress, and struggles with self-esteem, body-image, self-loathing, and an overall lack of confidence.

“There is an exploitative violation of trust that occurs when sexual violence is perpetrated by an intimate partner,” Dr Helps said.

“This is the person who should be one of the most trusted people to the victim-survivor. The impact of that betrayal is really significant.”

Dr Helps said dedicated training programs – boosted by adequate funding and support from government – is urgently needed.

Stop the cycle of violence. If you are concerned about your behaviour, or about someone using violence, call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.