Is Family Violence Rising Everywhere?

A Victorian data story linking family violence and socio-economic inequality

Rahul Reddy Bommireddy (s4125831)

Objective & Question

Objective

  • Explore 10 years (2015-2025) of family violence data across Victoria
  • Identify where and why incident rates remain persistently high
  • Examine the link between disadvantage and vulnerability
  • Use data to inform smarter, more targeted prevention strategies
  • Highlight how inequality shapes the risk landscape over time

Key Question: Is family violence rising everywhere? - Are all regions improving, or are some still at risk?

About the Data

Primary Source - Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria - Recorded Offences by Local Government Area
https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-victorian-crime-data/download-data?

  • Covers Family Incidents (2015–2025), year ending June

Contextual Data - ABS SEIFA (IRSAD 2021) - Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/socio-economic-indexes-areas-seifa-australia/latest-release

  • Provides deciles (1-10) ranking LGAs from most disadvantaged to most advantaged

Note:

  • Analysis uses rates per 100,000 people for comparability
  • If CSA rates were missing, computed manually as
    rate = incidents / population * 100000
  • Data is open, official, and reproducible.

Statewide Trend (Rate per 100k)

Key Insights

  • Statewide family violence rates dropped slightly in 2022 after earlier highs
  • But rates have risen steadily since 2023, reaching their highest in 2025
  • The data suggests a post-pandemic rebound in reported incidents
  • The overall trend hides big differences between LGAs - not all regions improved
  • Averages can be misleading - local stories vary dramatically

Regional Differences (Top 10 LGAs, Latest Year)

Key Insights

  • Some regional LGAs have much higher family violence rates than the state average
  • East Gippsland and Latrobe are among the most affected areas
  • Rural and regional communities show persistent disadvantage
  • These regions often face limited access to services and support
  • Highlights the need for targeted local prevention strategies

Change Over Time by Region (Small Multiples)

Key Insights

  • Trends differ widely between LGAs - there’s no single statewide pattern
  • East Gippsland and Greater Shepparton saw sharp rises after 2022
  • Some LGAs like Swan Hill and Benalla show fluctuating trends
  • Latrobe and Horsham remain consistently high, showing ongoing risk
  • Highlights the need for localised responses, not one-size-fits-all policy

Pre vs Post COVID (2015-2019 vs 2020-2025)

Key Insights

  • Family violence rates increased in most LGAs after COVID-19
  • Pandemic pressures - isolation, financial stress — had lasting impacts
  • Some regions (e.g., East Gippsland, Latrobe) saw sustained high levels
  • Only a few LGAs returned close to pre-COVID averages
  • Suggests that recovery was uneven across the state

Inequality Lens (ABS SEIFA, IRSAD 2021)

An IRSAD decile ranks an area’s level of socio-economic advantage or disadvantage by dividing all areas into ten equal groups based on their IRSAD score.

Key Insights

  • Each dot represents one LGA - comparing violence rate vs socio-economic status
  • Lower IRSAD deciles (1–3) = most disadvantaged areas -> higher violence rates
  • Higher IRSAD deciles (8–10) = more advantaged areas -> lower rates
  • Shows a clear negative correlation - disadvantage and violence go hand in hand
  • Reinforces that inequality drives risk and should guide targeted policy

Discussion — What the Data Suggests

  • Family violence rates have stabilised statewide, but not equally across regions
  • Rural and disadvantaged LGAs continue to record the highest incident rates
  • The link between socio-economic stress and family violence is consistent and strong
  • Urban recovery after COVID contrasts with ongoing rural strain
  • Highlights the need for place-based prevention and sustained local support

Limitations & References

Limitations

  • LGA boundary updates or population estimate errors may influence rate calculations
  • Data reflects reported incidents only, not the full extent of family violence
  • Limited availability of recent post-2025 contextual data

References