First Nations women and children with disability at greater risk of family and domestic violence

The Royal Commission has published a commissioned research report that examines the experiences of family and domestic violence for First Nations women and children with disability.

Titled ‘Wangkiny Yirra “Speaking Up” Project – First Nations women and children with disability and their experiences of family and domestic violence’, the report was prepared by researchers from Curtin University.

The report focuses on First Nations women and children with disability from Western Australia and acknowledges that trauma from colonisation is passed down through generations of First Nations people, including those with disability. This trauma, combined with racism and disadvantage, contributes to family and domestic violence.

Drawing on information from the Law Council of Australia, the report finds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with disability are at an even greater risk of experiencing violence and of being involved in violence and imprisoned. This is because they face intersecting forms of discrimination due to their gender, disability, and ethnicity.

One third of the First Nations women and children with disability interviewed said they were sexually abused as children.

The report found:

• First Nations women avoid reporting family and domestic violence due to fear that child protective services will remove children from their care.

• First Nations people experience barriers to assessments and diagnoses, making it difficult to access support.

• First Nations people experience a lack of support and cultural safety from staff in mainstream services.

The report pays respects to Elders past, present and emerging of the lands on which this research was undertaken. This report was written on the Whadjuk lands of the Nyoongar people.

Please direct all inquiries to the Disability Royal Commission media team on 0436 841 166 or via our email DRCmedia@royalcommission.gov.au.