” The incidence of family violence in Indigenous communities is disproportionately higher than in non-Indigenous communities.

The particularly high rates of family violence experienced by Indigenous people stem from a number of interrelated factors, including cultural loss and disruption caused by colonisation and dispossession, the removal of Indigenous children from their families, inter-generational trauma and systemic disadvantage and discrimination.

Experiences of childhood abuse and neglect have resulted in entrenched generational trauma manifested in a variety of forms, including violence, lateral violence, alcohol and drug misuse and misuse of cultural authority.”

Discussion questions

• How can communities be supported to develop solutions to violence that will both ensure the safety of victims and change perpetrator behavior?
• How can governments best support the resourcing and development of programs that alleviate, respond to and reduce the incidence of violence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children?

Contribute to the online roundtable discussion about domestic violence in Indigenous communities

Share your views

Some statistics on the prevalence of violence amongst Indigenous people include:

• Indigenous women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised because of family violence(External link) than non- Indigenous women[1](External link)
• Indigenous children are over 5 times more likely than non- Indigenous children to be hospitalised for assault(External link) and 8 times more likely to be the subject of substantiated child abuse or neglect[2](External link)
• Indigenous women are 5 times more likely to be victims of homicide(External link) than non‑Indigenous women, with around half of these women being victims of domestic homicide[3](External link)
• o the death rate from homicide for Indigenous people is 8.5 times the rate for non-Indigenous people(External link), and in remote and very remote areas this is 3.5 times the rate of Indigenous homicide in major cities[4](External link)
• o 56% of the homicides in the NT are a result of family violence
• available data suggests that Indigenous women are three times more likely to experience sexual violence than non-Indigenous women(External link)[5](External link)
• Indigenous people are 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous people, with 62% of Indigenous prisoners having committed violent offences.

Feedback from recent consultations on the Third Action Plan and from key Indigenous stakeholder groups has been clear that Indigenous women want the violence to stop.

They want to see intensive, trauma-informed services designed for families with complex needs and delivered in an appropriate cultural context. Delivery of services by Indigenous community controlled organisations is central to achieve this.

This roundtable will focus on how federal and state governments can best respond to and reduce the incidence of domestic and family violence in Indigenous communities. The discussion will also include strategies to develop solutions that both ensure the safety of victims, while also changing perpetrator behaviour.

Issues

The shortcomings of a justice system response to Indigenous family violence have been well‑documented, but a number of key issues remain unaddressed. For example, the recent Northern Territory Coroner’s Report Inquest into the deaths of Wendy Murphy and Natalie McCormack (2016) NTLC 024(External link) highlighted:

• 60% of all assaults are committed despite a Domestic Violence Order being in place against the perpetrator[6](External link)
• 60% of all assaults in the NT are a result of family violence[7](External link)
• 72% of these assaults are on Indigenous women[8](External link)
• 94% of all court orders in breach are Domestic Violence Orders.[9](External link)

This suggests the justice system has a limited capacity to respond to Indigenous victims and protect them from further harm as well as reduce the propensity of Indigenous perpetrators to engage in domestic violence.

It is also the case that the criminal justice response alone is insufficient and not culturally-informed to address the needs of Indigenous victims of family violence.

Victims often get the blame from family and the Aboriginal community for what happens to their partners, particularly if they go to prison. For many victims there is pressure from the husband’s family for the victim to withdraw the complaint and also the victim’s own family may seek to dissuade her.

A quantum shift is required to develop alternative approaches to responding to, and protecting, Indigenous women and their children from family violence. Researchers, Indigenous advocates and academics report that the needs of Indigenous people affected by family violence are not well met through general approaches and service models.

Wrap‑around, whole of family responses that protect women and their children and are also inclusive of men are required. An approach is required that acknowledges the impacts of past policies, is based on empowering individuals, communities and strengthening families, and where traditional approaches to healing and Indigenous perspectives are valued and respected.

Given the complex causes of violence in Indigenous communities, effective solutions will only be found through establishment of strong partnerships between Indigenous communities and organisations and governments.

Responses need to be intensive, place-based and targeted to individual drivers of violence, as well as recognise the intersectional dimension of violence against Indigenous women and acknowledge Indigenous peoples’ responsibilities to their families, communities and culture.

Contribute to the online roundtable discussion about domestic violence in Indigenous communities