Intimate Partner Violence among current and ex-serving ADF personnel and families

Studies suggest that Intimate Partner Violence is a significant concern for military and veteran families and refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes:

  • physical,
  • psychological or
  • sexual harm

Intimate Partner Violence can include:

  • acts of physical or sexual aggression
  • psychological abuse
  • controlling behaviour

Projects:

Understanding encounters with Intimate Partner Violence among Australian veterans and families: a preliminary study of service providers in a veteran-specific mental health support service

DVA commissioned Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to investigate how intimate partner violence is addressed within veteran support services.

This project included:

  • a survey of Open arms Counsellors, clinicians, and peer workers about their encounters with intimate partner violence, and
  • follow-up interviews with clinicians to explore key themes from the survey results.

This project was completed in 2021:

Intimate Partner Violence among current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and families: Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Data Analyses Project

DVA has commissioned Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to examine the rates of intimate partner violence among current- and ex-serving ADF personnel, using data from a large-scale study of current and recently transitioned ADF personnel and their families.

The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme data was used to:

  • determine the rates of intimate partner violence within the Australian veteran community,
  • identify vulnerable groups, and
  • provide an understanding of the implications of intimate partner violence on help-seeking and service utilisation.

This project, due for completion in December 2022, will provide insight to the extent and implications of intimate partner violence in Australian serving and ex-serving communities to inform new policy and program initiatives to help address this issue.

Project findings will be publicly available in early 2023.