ANROWS Research report, Issue 3, October 2021

The SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised significant concerns for the safety of women in the context of a coalescence of risk factors and stressors for intimate partner violence (IPV). There is now a large body of international evidence that has explored the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against women and children and, in particular, IPV. This research has drawn on a range of data sources, particularly police data and surveys of service providers and the community. Collectively, this research points to an increase in IPV, though not universally. In the Australian context, police data, service provider surveys and victimisation surveys have produced a mixed picture, but similarly suggest an increase in IPV, changes in the dynamics of IPV, and significant barriers to help-seeking.
Building on research conducted in the early stages of the pandemic (Boxall et al., 2020), an online survey of more than 10,000 adult women in Australia who had been in a relationship in the last 12 months was conducted. Respondents were asked about:
- their experiences of IPV in the last 12 months, including physical violence, sexual violence and emotionally abusive, harassing and controlling behaviours;
- their experiences of prior IPV;
- the changes in their own and their partner’s circumstances that may have contributed to changes in the patterns of abuse they were experiencing;
- their help-seeking behaviour;
- their economic security and social support networks.

The aim of this research was to better understand women’s experiences of IPV since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. (From the Executive summary). A webinar launching this report was recorded on 11 October 2021 - follow the link to view the webinar. Record #7290