Domestic and family violence is a health issue

For more than a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared domestic and family violence (DFV) as a global public health issue. It states DFV is a violation of women’s human rights caused by gender inequalities and further strengthens existing inequalities.

In 2024, Regulators of Health Practitioners released a joint statement on family violence stating that it is a public health issue that causes serious harm to the health, safety and wellbeing of adults and children victim-survivors. They affirm a commitment to respond to family violence and highlight that health practitioners are often the first point of contact for people experiencing family violence and play an essential role in responding sensitively and safely.

In Australia:

  • 1 in 4 women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner since the age of 15 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021–22)
  • on average, one woman is killed by an intimate partner every 11 days (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2022–23).

In Queensland, DFV is defined under the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012. According to this legislation, DFV includes a wide range of behaviour such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, economic abuse, threats, coercion or any behaviour that dominates and causes victim-survivors to fear for their safety or wellbeing.

Learn more about the types and signs of DFV.

Health impacts of DFV

DFV is the leading preventable contributor to death and illness for women aged 18–44 in Australia.

Health impacts of DFV can include:

  • assault-related injuries
  • traumatic brain injury
  • mental health conditions
  • self-harm
  • suicidality
  • sexually transmitted infections
  • reproductive health problems including miscarriage.

While women and children are most affected, anyone can be a victim-survivor of DFV. It is important that all victim-survivors receive the same level of response and care.

In Australia, for women aged 15 and over, intimate partner violence causes:

  • 49% of homicide and violent assault
  • 20% of suicide and self-inflicted injuries
  • 18% of early pregnancy loss
  • 16% of depressive disorders
  • 10% of anxiety disorders
  • 4% of alcohol use (Australian Burden of Disease Study, 2024).

Women make up about three quarters (74%) of all DFV-related hospitalisations. About one third (33%) of all assault-related hospitalisations are due to DFV.

First Nations women are more likely to be victim-survivors of DFV and experience more significant health impacts due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. They are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for DFV-related injuries than non-Indigenous women.

Some cases of DFV go unreported because they are harder to identify, and victim-survivors may not recognise their experience as DFV.  Coercive control is under-reported despite the significant impact it can have on health outcomes of victim-survivors.

Policy context

Recommendations from multiple Queensland agencies highlight the importance of ensuring the Queensland Health workforce have the skills, confidence, and knowledge to effectively respond to suspicions and disclosures of DFV.

The Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Strategy 2016-2026 also recognises the significance and importance of ensuring a whole-of-government, integrated response to address DFV in Queensland. This includes a focus from the health workforce on:

  • primary prevention and early intervention to prevent health consequences
  • response and recovery to help minimise the health consequences of DFV.

Queensland Health’s response

Health services are at the forefront of providing healthcare and support to the community. All members of the Queensland Health workforce must understand how to recognise and appropriately respond to DFV.

The Queensland Health Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Health Workforce Program is building capacity within Hospital and Health Services (HHSs), with dedicated and experienced DFV clinicians providing specialist information and a flexible program of DFV training.

A Queensland Health Domestic and Family Violence Capability Framework and toolkit has been developed to support staff to respond to DFV safely and appropriately.

Further information

Help, assistance and contact

If you or someone you know is experiencing DFV contact any of the following for support:

Last updated: 29 April 2025