Indigenous women's experiences of domestic and family violence, help‐seeking and recovery in regional Queensland

Abstract

Indigenous women are disproportionately affected by the prevalence and severity of domestic and family violence (DFV) perpetrated by men against women in Australia. The impact of their experiences is further exacerbated by the level of social and cultural marginalisation affecting Indigenous communities, families and individuals along with regional, rural or remote living. The pervasive, ongoing impact of colonisation, dispossession and transgenerational trauma continues to shape the experiences of Indigenous women and their communities, including their help-seeking decisions and opportunities, and their level of trust in and access to adequate and culturally sensitive support services. In this paper, we explore the experiences of Indigenous women affected by DFV in two regional Australian settings through face-to-face interviews with women (n = 13) and community stakeholders (n = 18). The findings of this study highlight the complex role of social and cultural marginalisation, spiritual (dis)connectedness and role of family as both a stressor and a protective factor. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Keeping Safe Together: A Brief Report on Children’s Experiences of One ‘All of Family’ Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Melbourne, Australia

“…In Australia, this is particularly problematic for Indigenous families and communities, where children are 11 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be in out-of-home care (AIHW, 2023). This very real possibility of forced child removal and other child protection interventions can present as a further barrier to help-seeking and support (Fiolet et al, 2021;Meyer & Stambe, 2020).…”

Building Trauma Informed Teachers: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Remote Primary School Teachers’ Experiences With Children Living With the Effects of Complex Childhood Trauma

“…They recognized the inter-relationships between domestic and family violence, and intergenerational and transgenerational trauma (Atkinson, 2013;Langton et al, 2020;Fiolet et al, 2021). The intertwining of these complex phenomena arises from the long-term effects of colonization, government policies on assimilation which led to the destruction of traditional family units in many Australia's remote communities, resulting in dispossession and despair (Atkinson, 2002;Menzies, 2019;Curthoys, 2020;Meyer and Stambe, 2020). Teachers in this study bore witness to these injustices and the harm they have caused and continue to cause.…”

“…These conditions are complex and dynamic, and intertwined with the effects of colonization, dispossession and assimilation which led to the destruction of traditional family units in Australia's remote communities and has resulted in intergenerational trauma (Atkinson, 2002;Menzies, 2019;Curthoys, 2020;Meyer and Stambe, 2020). Intergenerational trauma has been defined as trauma that "occurs when parent figures who experienced trauma transmit the effects of their trauma to their children via interactional patterns, genetic pathways and/or family dynamics" (Isobel et al, 2021, p. 632).…”

“You Can’t Meet Everyone's Needs After-Hours”: After-Hours Domestic and Family Violence Services in Rural and Remote Areas

“…There is a growing body of literature that has detailed high rates of domestic and family violence 1 (DFV) and service gaps and barriers in regional, rural, and remote communities in Australia ( Dillon et al, 2015 ; Hooker et al, 2019 ; Meyer & Stambe, 2021 ; Ragusa, 2013 ; Ragusa, 2017 ; Wendt & Hornosty, 2010 ). The most recent Australian National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) report ( Webster et al, 2018 ) suggests that women residing in rural and regional areas 2 may experience DFV that is more severe and more prolonged than women in other areas.…”

“…The literature identifies specific groups of individuals who might commonly experience barriers to accessing policing services, including Indigenous people and people living in rural areas. Indigenous victim–survivors experience unique barriers in reporting DFV, including discriminatory practices and a lack of cultural safety when in contact with police ( Douglas & Fitzgerald, 2018 ; Fiolet et al, 2021 ; Funston, 2013 ; Meyer & Stambe, 2021 ). One outcome, according to Blagg et al (2015) is that underreporting of DFV is likely higher among Indigenous women than non-Indigenous women, though the authors acknowledge the lack of empirical evidence for this assertion.…”