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Community attitudes towards violence against women
Measure: The mean score on the Attitudes Towards Violence against Women Scale (AVAWS)
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Baseline value
68
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Latest value
68in 2021
Last updated:
Interpretation
An increase in the mean score on the Attitudes Towards Violence against Women Scale (AVAWS) would indicate an increase in attitudes that reject violence against women.
Target: 2 point increase in community attitudes that condemn violence against women every 4 years.
Baseline: 2021.
Indicator: Increase in community attitudes that condemn violence against women.
Long-term outcome: Community attitudes and beliefs embrace gender equality and condemn all forms of gendered violence without exception.
Data source: ANROWS National Community Attitudes Survey.
Source: DSS 2023, 2024.
For information about how this measure is derived, please refer to the Technical specifications for National Plan Outcomes.
Additional National Plan Outcomes data are available from the Data downloads page.
Time series
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, 2009 to 2021
Year | Mean score |
---|---|
2009 | 63^ |
2013 | 64^ |
2017 | 66 |
2021 | 68 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021 mean score.
State and territory
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, by jurisdiction, 2017 and 2021
Jurisdiction | 2017 | 2021 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
NSW | 66 | 67 |
Vic | 67 | 68 |
Qld | 65 | 67 |
WA | 65^ | 67 |
SA | 65^ | 67 |
Tas | 65^ | 68 |
ACT | 67^ | 70 |
NT | 65^ | 68 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference between 2017 and 2021 mean score.
Type of violence scale
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, by type of violence, 2017 and 2021
Subscale | 2017 | 2021 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
Domestic violence scale | 67 | 68 |
Sexual violence scale | 66^ | 68 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
- Based on the Domestic Violence Scale and Sexual Violence Scale of the National Community Attitudes Survey.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference between 2017 and 2021 mean score.
Population characteristics
Gender
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, by gender, 2017 and 2021
Gender | 2017 | 2021 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
Women | 67 | 69 |
Men | 65 | 66 |
Non–binary respondents | n.a. | 71 |
Persons | 66 | 68 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
- 2021 was the first year NCAS reported results for non–binary respondents. "Non–binary" includes all respondents who reported they were non–binary or another gender identity outside the gender binary.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
n.a.: not available.
Age
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, by age group, 2017 and 2021
Age group | 2017 | 2021 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
16–24 | 66^ | 67 |
25–34 | 67^ | 69 |
35–44 | 68 | 69 |
45–54 | 67^ | 69 |
55–64 | 66 | 67 |
65–74 | 64 | 65 |
75+ | 60^ | 62 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference between 2017 and 2021 mean score.
Sexuality
Mean score on the Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale, by sexuality, 2021
Scale | 2021 (baseline) |
---|---|
Heterosexual | 67 |
Lesbian | 75 |
Gay | 71 |
Bisexual or Pansexual | 72 |
Asexual, queer or diverse sexualities | 73 |
Notes:
- Weighted data.
- Possible scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater rejection of problematic attitudes.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
Related material
See the related content in the AIHW Family, domestic and sexual violence website:
Department of Social Services (DSS) (2023) Outcomes Framework 2023-2032, DSS, accessed 26 February 2024.
DSS (2024) Performance measurement plan, DSS, accessed 8 May 2024.
Related measures
See the related National Plan Outcomes measures:
- Previous page Community understanding of violence against women
- Next page Community attitudes towards gender inequality