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Family violence is any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships (Victorian Government 2022). 

Family violence takes many forms and occurs across all social groups. While physical violence may be the most visible form, other forms of violence are also harmful. These include, but are not limited to, sexual violence, psychological and emotional abuse and coercive control.

Women and children are most commonly the victims of family violence. Some communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds may experience more severe forms or higher rates of family violence due to inequality and discrimination (Respect Victoria 2023).

This page presents an analysis of data published by the Crime Statistics Agency. Two things should be noted when interpreting the information on this page:

  1. Family violence often goes unreported. A 2016 survey of more than 21,000 people across Australia indicated that 18% of women and less than 3% of men subjected to violence by a current partner had ever contacted police about it (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017). Findings like this suggest that police data is likely to substantially underestimate the incidence of family violence. Find out more at the Australian Bureau of Statistics personal safety statistics, 2017.
  2. Police data on family violence is indicative of victims’ confidence to report family violence, improvements in police practices in identifying and recording family violence incidents, as well as the actual incidence of family violence. The Royal Commission into Family Violence states ‘Increases in recorded cases might reflect higher reporting rates or improved skill or effort in identifying family violence.’ Find out more in the Royal Commission into Family Violence report, Vol I, p52.

Number and nature of incidents

Police recorded 1,075 family violence incidents in Boroondara during 2023–24. The recorded family violence incident rate is stable in Boroondara (Figure 1). Most recorded family violence incidents in Boroondara occur within a dwelling or the surrounding grounds or outbuildings (Figure 2) and most involve verbal abuse (Figure 3). Property damage and economic abuse are less frequently recorded. 

Line chart showing the rate of recorded family violence incidents in Boroondara per 100,000 population has gone from 534 in 2019-20 to 604 in 2023-24. The Victorian rate has gone from 1333 in 2019-20 to a peak of 1427 in 2020-21 before dropping sightly. In 2023-24 the Victorian rate was 1418 per 100,000 population.

Figure 1: The number of police recorded family violence incidents per 100,000 population has remained stable in Boroondara every year since 2021-22. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency 2024

Donut chart showing 90% of family violence incidents recorded in Boroondara during 2022-23 occurred at a residential location. That is, in a dwelling or the surrounding grounds or outbuildings.

Figure 2: Nine in 10 family violence incidents recorded in Boroondara during 2022-23 occurred in a dwelling or the surrounding grounds or outbuildings. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency Family 2024

Bar chart showing the types of abuse recorded for family violence incidents in Boroondara during 2022-23: Verbal 584 incidents, emotional 395, physical 230, other abuse 154, sexual abuse 28 and economic abuse 52.

Figure 3: The most frequently recorded type of abuse for Boroondara family violence incidents in 2022-23 was verbal abuse. An incident can involve multiple types of abuse. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency Family 2024

Who is affected 

Family violence is most often thought of as occurring between intimate partners or immediate relations living in the same home. Family violence can also be perpetrated by someone in the same household who is in a ‘family-like relationship’ (such as a carer), or within relationships where there is cultural recognition by the community of a ‘family-like’ relationship (such as in Aboriginal communities) (Safe Steps 2023).

Violence between partners accounted for half the recorded incidents in Boroondara in 2022–23 (Figure 4).

Anybody can be affected by family violence, including children (Figure 5). Most affected people are female (Figure 6) and the most likely to be affected are aged 35 to 44 (Figure 7).

Pictogram showing half of recorded family violence incidents in Boroondara in 2022-23 involved current or former partners.

Figure 4: Around half of family violence incidents in Boroondara in 2022–23 occurred between current or former partners. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency 2024

Donut chart showing a child witnessed or was an affected family member in 36% of recorded family violence incidents in Boroondara in 2022-23.

Figure 5: A person under 18 years witnessed or was otherwise affected by more than one in three family violence incidents in Boroondara during 2022–23. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency 2024

Donut chart showing 68% of those affected by family violence in Boroondara in 2023-24 were female.

Figure 6: More than two in three people affected by family violence in Boroondara during 2023-24 were female. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency 2024 

Bar chart showing the age group recorded for people affected by violence incidents in Boroondara during 2023-24. 0 to 17 183 people, 534 per 100,000, 18 to 24 97 people, 488 per 100,000, 25 to 34 201 people, 842 per 100,000, 35 to 44 194 people, 929 per 100,000, 45 to 54 198 people, 842 per 100000, 55 and over 182 people, 349 per 100000.

Figure 7: People affected by family violence in Boroondara in 2023-24 were of all age groups, including 183 children and young people under 18. Per capita, those aged 35 to 44 are most at risk. Data source: Crime Statistics Agency 2024

Support services and more information

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
  • To find out who to contact if you are concerned about abuse or violence in your relationship, see our Family violence support page. 
  • For other local support services, see our Counselling and mental health services page.
  • To find out more about the prevalence and impacts of family violence in Victoria and Australia, visit the Safe and Equal website. Safe and Equal is the peak body for specialist family violence services that provide support to victim survivors in Victoria. 

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