Inquiry into capturing data on family violence perpetrators in Victoria_ANROWS_V9 CEO signature

This submission highlights important considerations related to family violence perpetration, the breadth of data collected relating to the perpetration of family violence in Victoria, and opportunities for collecting additional data to better understand and respond to the perpetration of family violence in Victoria. [...] This is particularly important in relation to data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples held by systems, and in the context of the role of systems in historic and ongoing harms against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. [...] What data on the profile and volume of family violence perpetrators is collected in Victoria? Profile and volume of family violence perpetrators People that use violence and people that experience violence come into contact with a range of services and, as a result of this contact, data on the profile and volume of family violence perpetrators is collected in many settings. [...] Critically, in thinking about the need for data on the profile of DFSV perpetrators, it is important to recognise the need for qualitative incident- specific analysis to understand the nuances of precipitating events, personal characteristics of offenders and victims and survivors, and motives of perpetrators, including motives pertaining to domestic and family violence (DFV) homicides (Cussen & B. [...] Given that improving the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is a priority of Closing the Gap Target 13, there is a need for more current data about the prevalence of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children and the characteristics of those perpetrating against them – including non-Indigenous users of violence.