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Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences of violence

  • Providing the right support means understanding the causes and effects of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • It is important to understand the past and current experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as the needs of the person you are supporting
  • Remember that domestic and family violence is not always caused by an intimate partner but can also come from other family members and the extended community.

Violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Domestic and family violence happens in Australia across all communities. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities domestic and family violence happens at higher rates than in non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Understanding why this is the case helps support services to better meet the needs of people affected by family violence.

Our Watch: Reporting on Aboriginal people’s experiences of family violence

Our Watch has developed a toolkit for non-Aboriginal journalists who want to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal experiences of family violence.

Reporting Aboriginal people's experiences of family violence | Our Watch - Our Watch