Ray Lovett: ’The prevalence of experiencing and using violence was lower among those with less exposure to trauma themselves or within their families.’
Ray Lovett: 'The prevalence of experiencing and using violence was lower among those with less exposure to trauma themselves or within their families.' - A new report has found drivers that mitigate experiences of violence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) partnered with 18 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to gather and analyse data from 1,600 people in an effort to understand how to reduce family violence. The researchers hope the Indigenous-led study, commissioned by the Department of Social Services, supports an understanding of family safety targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The study found trauma and discrimination were among the key drivers of family violence. "The data shows that the prevalence of experiencing and using violence was lower among those with less exposure to trauma themselves or within their families; among those who had experienced lower levels of discrimination, and among those who had not witnessed violence - particularly in their youth," report co-author, Associate Professor Ray Lovett, said. "The drivers of and responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence are complex and often overlapping - highlighting a deep connection to past trauma. "Overwhelmingly, participants talked about the root of family violence - the causes - coming from historical settler-colonial trauma inflicted on individuals and communities." The report identifies key drivers, that do not cause violence, but are contributors to increased experiences of violence.
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