There is growing recognition in Australia of the distinct needs and experiences of women with disabilities in violence prevention and response efforts. Research demonstrates that women with disabilities are at significantly higher risk than other women of experiencing violence, of experiencing multiple types of abuse and experiencing abuse by more than one perpetrator. Women with disabilities are also more likely to experience violence and abuse than men with disabilities. However, guidelines for the development of resources for women with disabilities about violence and abuse are lacking.

Good practice guidelines for the development of resources (including documents, videos, websites, apps and training sessions) that seek to prevent violence against women with disabilities are timely in the current disability and violence prevention policy contexts. There is an emphasis at both state and federal levels on recognising women with disabilities as a priority group in violence prevention, providing targeted, accessible information to people with disabilities and promoting cross-sector collaboration to address violence and abuse. Both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women provide broader imperatives for organisations to ensure resources about violence and abuse are consistent with good practice.

There is firm agreement that all sectors and organisations in Australia are responsible for preventing and addressing violence against women. The diverse forms and settings of abuse experienced by women with disabilities further underscore this need.