Women and Newborn Health Service
Services A — Z
King Edward Memorial Hospital
SARC Statistics
Australian Statistics
Gender
Sexual assault and sexual abuse is one of the most under reported criminal offences and therefore one of the most difficult
to accurately analyse. However, the vast majority of available statistics shows that women report incidents of sexual
assault more than men, irrespective of age. The Personal Safety Survey (2005a) administered by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics states that in the 12 months prior to the survey, 1.3% (101 600) of Australian women were sexually assaulted,
while 0.6% (42 300) of Australian men were sexually assaulted. Furthermore, 17.0% (362 400) of men had been sexually
assaulted at least once since they were 15, while 16.8% (1 293 100) of women had at least one experience. Overall, 84%
of all sexual assault victims are female, with the highest rate occurring for girls aged between 10 and 14 years, 516 per
100 000 females (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). Similarly, the highest rate for males was also between the ages of
10 and 14 years (88 per 100 000 relevant persons), followed by boys under 10 years old (70 per 100 000 relevant persons).
Sexual assault victims younger than 10 years old consisted of 30% males and in older age groups males made up 15% or less
of the population.
Indigenous
It is difficult to estimate the number of Indigenous people who are sexually assaulted in Australia due to unreliable
recording. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) states that approximately 5.6% of sexual assault victims
in New South Wales are Indigenous, while 12.6% of sexual assault victims in Queensland are Indigenous.
Location
A report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) found that 65% of reported sexual assaults in 2005 occurred in
private dwellings, followed by in the street/footpath (7%).
Characteristics of Perpetrator
The Personal Safety Survey (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005a) found that the perpetrator in three quarters (75.0%)
of sexual assaults was known to the victim. Of these, two in five perpetrators (40.4%) were family members or friends,
but for male victims this figure increases to 43.7% compared to 39.0% for women. Women experienced sexual assault by
another known person in 32.0% of cases and in 35.1% for men. A greater proportion of men (32.9%) experienced sexual
assault by a stranger compared to women (21.8%).
Childhood Abuse
More than a third (35.6%) of women who experienced sexual violence by a partner in 2005 was also sexually abused as a
child (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005a). While almost three out ten men and women who were victims of sexual
violence also experienced physical abuse as a child (26.7% and 27.7% respectively).
Harassment
The Personal Safety Survey (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005a) reports that in the 12 months prior to the survey,
19.0% (1 459 500) of women experienced harassment while 11.6% (864 300) of men were harassed. It was found that 7.9%
(606 500) of women and 3.9% (291 100) of men had experienced indecent exposure. Another 9.6% (736 200) of women and 3.6%
(267 600) of men had been touched sexually without consent.
Convictions
Between 2004 and 2005, approximately 45% of sexual assaults defendants found guilty in magistrates court received a
custodial order, while 22% received a non-custodial monetary order. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006a). However,
during the same period 74% of sexual assault defendants found guilty in higher courts received a custodial sentence.
Trend
It has been reported that since 1995 the number of sexual assaults reported has been steadily increasing each year on
average by 4% (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2006a). Sexual assaults appear to be reported most frequently between
January to March and September to November, while April through to July show the least number of reported cases.
Sexual Abuse
The Personal Safety Survey (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005a) found that the majority (32.4%) of children under
15 years who have experienced sexual abuse are aged between 11 and 14 years and there does not appear to be a
differentiation in gender (males 32.8% and females 32.3%). Furthermore, the perpetrator is largely a male relative
other than the father (30.2%). When comparing male and female victims the perpetrator is usually a male relative other
than the father for female victims (35.1%), but another known person (27.3%) for male victims.
Western Australian Statistics
Turning the Corner 2007: Recent Crime Trends in Western Australia (Office of Crime Prevention, 2007) states that the rate of sexual assault in Western Australia has increased, and has been steadily increasing since 2004. There were 1385 reported cases of sexual assault during 2003 and by the end of 2006 the number of reported cases increased to 1786 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). However, between 1999 and 2003 the rate of reported sexual assaults was on a downward trend, with a decrease of 24% by the end of the period (Office of Crime Prevention, 2007). It has been suggested that the increase may not necessarily indicate that the number of sexual assaults committed has increase, but due to the number of sexual assaults reported to the police. Furthermore, in 2004 the recording system used by Police was improved, allowing for more accurate recording of offence categories.The average number of sexual assaults reported to police in the first six months of 2007 was higher than the number recorded the same time last year (Office of Crime Prevention, 2007). Unlike the statistics that have been shown for the nation, there is little difference between genders. It has been shown that 1.7% of Western Australian females experienced sexual violence (includes sexual assault and sexual threats) in 2005, compared to 1.6% of males (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005a).
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005) Crime and Safety, Australia 2005. ABS cat. no 4509.0. www.abs.gov.au
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005a). Personal Safety Survey, Australia 200-2005.ABS cat. no 4906.0. www.abs.gov.au
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) Recorded crime, victims, Australia 2005. ABS cat. no. 4510.0. www.abs.gov.au
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006a) Criminal courts, Australia 2004-05. ABS cat. no. 4513.0. www.abs.gov.au
Australian Institute of Criminology (2006). Violence Experienced by men and women. www.aic.gov.au
Australian Institute of Criminology (2006a). Australian Crime: Facts and Figures. www.aic.gov.au
Office of Crime Prevention (2007). Turning the Corner 2007: Recent Crime Trends in Western Australia. www.crimeprevention.wa.gov.au
