The Impact of COVID-19 on Family Violence Rates

A recent study conducted by Monash University found that significant increases and challenges had been seen by practitioners responding to family violence calls. The study found:

  • An increase in the frequency and severity of violence against women (VAW).
  • 59% of respondents reported that COVID-19 had increased the frequency of VAW and 50% reported it has increased the severity of VAW.
  • An increase in the complexity of women’s needs was noted by 86% of respondents.
  • An increase in first-time family violence reporting by women was noted by 42% of respondents.
  • New forms of intimate partner violence including enhanced tactics to achieve social isolation and forms of violence specifically relating to the threat and risk of COVID-19 infection.
  • For many women experiencing violence during the lockdown period, there was less ability to seek help.
  • Service innovations have occurred across Victoria to enhance accessibility and effectiveness of service delivery during the COVID-19 easing of restrictions and recovery phase.
  • Numerous challenges to providing support, undertaking effective risk assessment and carrying out safety planning during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Monash Study: Responding to the 'Shadow Pandemic'

A 'Dual Pandemic'

There has been no evidence of a ‘dual pandemic’ of family violence in addition to COVID-19 in Australia, and post COVID-19. Whilst domestic assaults continue to increase across the country, they are increasing at a minor rate. Most trends have returned to levels at least as high as pre-COVID-19.

Whilst family violence support services across Australia reported increased pressure during the pandemic, it may be that police-recorded assaults did not show the types of incidents driving calls to the support services. A range of studies found that whilst formally recorded domestic violence related offences and police involvement decreased, calls to domestic violence hotlines may have increased. However, we have no independent data to confirm this.

On the other hand, studies in Europe, Asia, China, and America reported that family and domestic violence prevalence had increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.