This report is the first population-representative study on family violence in the state of Victoria. It is based on the responses of 33,654 randomly selected adults aged 18 years or older to five questions, included for the first time in the 2017 Victorian Population Health Survey (VPHS).

Family violence consists of coercive and abusive behaviours by a person towards a family member of that person that are designed to control, intimidate, humiliate, undermine and isolate, resulting in fear and insecurity. Such behaviours include, but are not limited to, physical, sexual, emotional, financial and spiritual.

The report investigates the prevalence of family violence, who experienced family violence, the frequency of its occurrence, the type of family violence experienced, the services accessed in response to family violence, and the knowledge of the general population about where to get outside advice or support for family violence.