In 2023/24, 3,635 family violence incidents were reported in Hume, with an incident rate of 1,344.2 per 100,000 population, slightly lower than the Victorian rate of 1,418.1. Hume has the third highest rate of family violence incidents in North-West Metropolitan Melbourne. Since 2019-20, the rate of family incidents in Hume City has been declining. Hume City currently has the sixth highest rate of family incidents per 100,000 population across Greater Melbourne.
The most common form of abuse is verbal abuse, accounting for 38.7% of recorded abuse types. This is followed by emotional abuse (26.8%) and physical abuse (16.8%).
Affected family members of family violence incidents are most commonly aged between 25-44 years of age, with almost one in two (49.4%) affected family members in this age group. Hume City demonstrates a similar breakdown of affected family member by age compared to Victoria. This is indicative of a regression to the norm from a previously high proportion of younger persons impacted by family violence. Approximately 76% of affected family members in family violence incidents in Hume are female, similar to the Victorian average of 75%.
In just over two out of five (42.6%) recorded incidents of family violence in Hume City, a child was present as either a victim or a witness. This is higher than the statewide rate of 36.2%.
Affected family members by age group 2023/24
Criminal Offences Related to Family Violence
Over one in five (22.2%) criminal offences in Hume City in 2023-24 related to family violence incidents. The most common offences were breach of a family violence order (41.7%) and family violence related common assault (17.0%). The rates per 100,000 population of family violence related offences in Hume City are slightly higher in Hume City when compared to Victoria (with the exception of breach of family violence order).
Sexual Violence
Sexual offences include rape, indecent assault, and other acts of a sexual nature against another person, which are non-consensual or where the person is deemed incapable of giving consent because of youth or temporary or permanent incapacity. In Victoria, sexual violence is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women, about one third of reported sexual offences are related to family violence. In 2023-24 sexual offences in Hume City occurred at a rate of 12.2 per 10,000 people for females and 1.5 for males. Both rates are slightly lower than the Victorian averages (15.4 and 2.8 respectively).
Elder Abuse
Local level data on elder abuse is not available, however, a 2021 Australian study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that one in six older people experienced elder abuse. An older person is defined as being over 65 years (or over 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). The number of older people who experience abuse is likely higher as older people are often reluctant to report abuse. The most common types of elder abuse were financial abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological (emotional) abuse and neglect. Over one in two (53%) elder abuse perpetrators were family members. However, the most common perpetrator varies according to the type of elder abuse. For example, just over two in three cases of financial abuse of older people was carried out by a family member, whilst sexual abuse of older people was predominantly perpetrated by friends (42%).
Socio-demographic characteristics associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing elder abuse include being separated, divorced or never married, having stepchildren, owning a home with a mortgage or renting (including living in public housing), and or living in a disadvantaged area. Experiences of elder abuse are associated with poorer physical health, poorer psychological health and a lower sense of social connection.