The latest findings from the National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) underscore an urgent need for systems-level change to address systemic racism and improve the safety and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia, the Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) says.
The NCAS, a periodic survey conducted every four years, provides a snapshot of Australian attitudes toward violence against women. This year, 442 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents participated in the survey—92 per cent identifying as Aboriginal, five per cent as Torres Strait Islander, and four per cent as both.
The report underscored that systemic racism is deeply embedded in societal attitudes, institutions, and public services. ANROWS noted in a statement on Tuesday that this racism continues to compound inequality for and harm to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Key NCAS findings demonstrated that trust in government and police remains low, with less than half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents agreeing that violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is taken seriously by police (44 per cent) or the government (36 per cent).
Trust was even lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ respondents, with only 14-22 per cent trusting police to respond appropriately to family violence, compared to 44-58 per cent of heterosexual respondents.
More than half reported trust in confidentiality of services (59–66 per cent), but fewer expected fair treatment from police and courts (40–55 per cent). More than one in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents did not expect confidential or fair treatment by police, courts, or services (26–53 per cent)
ANROWS chief executive Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said ending violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women requires addressing the ongoing impacts of colonisation and systemic racism.
"This report shows the critical role for addressing the attitudes that shape those ongoing impacts. Urgent changes are necessary within policing, judicial systems, and social services to foster environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access support and justice without fear of being further impacted through culturally unsafe practices or worse," she said.
The survey points to gaps in understanding about the gendered nature of violence. While most respondents reject harmful attitudes towards gender equality, violence against women, and different types of violence, 70 per cent demonstrated a mistaken belief that domestic violence is equally perpetrated by men and women, underscoring the need for greater awareness of gendered violence.
ANROWS noted that the findings should be considered in the context that, while gender inequality is a driver of violence against women, other intersecting factors also influence violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The organisation said the NCAS findings "signal the urgent need for systems-level reform to dismantle systemic racism and ensure culturally safe, trustworthy support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women", and that the findings reinforce the role for policymakers, service providers and community leaders to work together to create a society where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are safe, respected, and able to seek support and services justice without fear.
