Domestic Violence is a significant social issue that has a major impact upon the health of women in society. Violence against women has received increasing public attention in Australia over the past twenty years. A recent survey conducted in Albany Creek revealed that 60% of respondents agree, and 14% strongly agree that domestic violence is an increasing problem in society. (see appendix 1) In Australia, 23% of women who have ever been m

Domestic violence awareness campaigns and community development activities should focus on promoting community values and attitudes, which condemn violence and abuse in a relationship. They should promote equality in relationships, and encourage community responsibility for domestic violence, not in lieu of state responsibility, but as an adjunct to changing attitudes. Information books should be provided to the public containing useful information about domestic violence. And access to affordable legal advice and legal representation should be available to all victims.

It is widely assumed that most estimates of the incidence of domestic violence are under-estimates. Even large population surveys cannot provide accurate estimates of the extent of domestic violence in Australia, according to the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre. This is partly because many victims feel unable to speak out about domestic violence. In order for victims to be protected, and for the numbers to decrease, the legislation needs to be reviewed and changed.

In the past decade, domestic violence has been recognised as a major public health problem. It affects all people, irrespective of economic, educational, social, geographic or racial background, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. However the lack of agreement about the basic features of domestic violence makes case identification difficult. Unfortunately, domestic violence is the most common form of assault in Australia today, but it remains a hidden problem because it occurs within the privacy of the home and those involved are usually reluctant to speak out. The view of people in society may be that married relationships are private and what happens to one of the people in that relationship is private and nobody else¡¦s business. However, a marriage or defacto arrangement is a public declaration of caring, where the partners agree to love and take care of one another. When this public declaration and the family unit begins to breaks down and the woman suffers brutality, it is the concern of the whole society. (K.Healey 1996 p3)

Some topics in this essay:
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