Sixty-five percent of Aussie women with disability are victims of violence

Content warning: violence against women

Key points:

• The Framework for Action has been released by disability organisations to improve support for women with disability experiencing violence
• Sixty-five percent of women with disability have experienced ‘at least one incident of violence since the age of 15,’ according to Our Watch and Women with Disabilities Australia
• Different types of violence include physical abuse, sexual violence, emotional abuse and financial abuse

A new Framework for Action has been created by Our Watch in collaboration with Women with Disabilities Victoria to inform government and policy-makers about strengthening support for women with disability.

Sixty-five percent of women with disability have experienced ‘at least one incident of violence since the age of 15,’ according to Our Watch and Women with Disabilities Australia.

Our Watch is a ‘national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.’ Women with Disabilities Victoria is an organisation run by women with disability that organises workshops and leadership programs with resources to empower women with disability. 

In the Framework for Action, recommendations are highlighted to increase support for women with disability. The first focus area is centred on reform in policy, legislation and regulations, whereas the second area prioritises preventative action in priority settings and communities.

Women with Disabilities Victoria Chief Executive Officer Nadia Mattiazzo commented on the importance of resources for women with disability such as the new Framework for Action.

“It is only by acknowledging that we are experts in our own experiences and adopting inclusive practice principles like co-design that resources like those being launched today can and will achieve systemic change,” she said.

“These are evidence-based resources that show prevention workers, disability professionals and the general public how easy it is to start and the real, practical work that will make a difference in this crisis of violence against women and girls with disabilities.”

Types of abuse can include:

• physical abuse, e.g. hitting or withholding medication;
• sexual violence, e.g. unwanted touching;
• emotional abuse, e.g. threatening to end disability-related care;
• financial abuse, e.g. withholding disability-related funding.

Approximately six percent of women with disability have ‘experienced physical violence in the last two years,’ according to recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Director of the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics Will Milne commented on how a person’s disability could impact the likelihood of violence.

“[…] Women with an intellectual/psychological disability were nearly three times more likely than women with a physical disability to experience violence,” he said.

Organisations such as People with Disability Australia identified some barriers for women with disability in accessing support such as:

• having limited awareness of the support available to them;
• perceiving domestic violence services as being unsafe, unapproachable and inaccessible;
• facing stereotyping when seeking support.

Ms Mattiazzo praised the collaboration between Women with Disabilities Victoria and Our Watch which aimed to assist women with disability to access better support.

“We are proud to partner with Our Watch to make these resources accessible to everyone. They are strength-based, drawing from women with disabilities’ lived experiences, giving language and real-life examples to build confidence so that action can be taken to prevent violence before it begins,” she said.

“Disability is often not discussed and practical steps that improve accessibility and equity are not well understood. These resources show that simple actions have [a] great impact.”  

Approximately 5.5 million Australians have disability, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Our Watch Chief Executive Officer Patty Kinnersly wants Australians to understand the importance of the recently released resources and how they could improve the lives of women with disability.

“This violence is driven by sexism and ableism as well as other intersecting forms of discrimination, but it is preventable,” she said.

“The resources and framework we are launching today build on decades of research. They have been co-designed by prevention and disability sector leaders together with women with lived experience.

“The framework encourages governments to take a number of actions such as setting targets for women with disabilities on boards and in the public service and providing professional development for prevention workers and those providing frontline services to women with disabilities.” 

If you have experienced violence as a person with disability, help is available. If you are in immediate danger, call 000 for police and ambulance assistance. 

To get free counselling 24/7 for domestic, family or sexual violence, visit the 1800Respect website, call 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732.

Free 24/7 counselling with Lifeline is also available for Australians experiencing personal crises. You can call 13 11 14 or visit their website.

What are your thoughts on the new Framework for Action?

Let the team at Talking Disability know on social media. 

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