The scale of sexual violence against women and children has likely been underestimated. Until now, research has not extensively examined the prevalence of sexual violence in Australia. This study examined the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH), which has captured sexual violence data – from more than 57,000 women – since 1996.

Results of this study confirm the high rates of co-occurring adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the developmental histories of male youth who encounter the youth justice system in Australia, especially among those who have perpetrated sexual harm.

This national study addresses an overarching aim to examine the extent and nature of, and responses to, technology-facilitated abuse within the Australian community.

When children experience domestic and family violence (DFV), it disrupts that right and can have long-lasting impacts on their health and wellbeing. This report sheds new light on DFV and children’s mental health, presenting findings from a population-based retrospective cohort study of children born in Western Australia between 1987 and 2010.

The research in this study underscores the value of promoting young people’s voices in research, policy and practice design. By centring young people’s voices, the findings give rise to important implications for policies and strategies aimed at preventing domestic violence and abuse and for respectful relationships initiatives for young people in Australia.