Sexual Violence in Queensland

1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted or threatened since the age of 15.
1 in 2 women aged 15 and over have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15.
1 in 20 men have been sexually assaulted or threatened since the age of 15.
1 in 4 men aged 18 and over have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15.
98% of women who have been sexually assaulted said that the perpetrator was a male.

In 2019, there were 4,859 recorded victims of sexual assault - increasing for the eighth year in a row.
There were over five times more females than males
Almost a quarter (23%) were aged between 15 and 19 years
Over two-thirds (70%) occurred at a residential location
The majority (73%) knew the offender
More than a third (34%) were recorded as Family Domestic Violence-related
Most (91%) did not involve the use of a weapon
It is estimated that 75% of sexual assaults are never reported – so these statistics are likely to be much higher.

In 2019, women and girls made up 84.6% of victims of recorded sexual assaults in Queensland.
Almost a quarter (23%) of those women and girls were aged between 15 and 19 years of age.
In Australia, 1 in 6 women report that they have been physically and/or sexually abused before the age of 15.

In 2019, men and boys made up 5.4% of victims of recorded sexual assaults in Queensland.
Of those men and boys, just over half were under the age of 14.
1 in 9 men report that they have been physically and/or sexually abused before the age of 15.
In 2018-19 in Queensland, 97% of recorded sexual offences were committed by men.
Males aged 15 to 19 committed the largest amount of offences compared to all other age groups.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 3 times more likely to experience sexual assault than non-Indigenous Australians.
12% of victims of recorded sexual assault in Queensland are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, despite making up only 4% of the population.

A 2007 study found that over a quarter of victims of sexual assault had a psychiatric or intellectual disability, despite making up just 3% of the population.
A higher proportion of women aged 18 and over with disability or a long-term health condition experience sexual assault (1.9%) than those without disability or a long-term health condition (1.4%).

While statistics are not readily available, services estimate the vast majority of women from a migrant and refugee background have experienced sexual assault.

While statistics are not readily available, while there is more research to be done, one study found that 25% experienced sexual assault within a same-sex relationship, despite representing around 11% of the population.

Although attitudes are improving, our society still has some concerning views about relationships and sexual violence:

Up to 15% of people think it’s justified for a man to force a woman to have sex if she kisses him first.
1 in 10 people think that if a woman falls asleep during sex, it’s understandable if a man keeps having sex with her anyway.
Nearly 1 in 3 people believe that if a woman sends a nude image to her partner, she is partially responsible if he shares it without permission.
Nearly half of Australians think it is common for sexual assault accusations to be used as a way of getting back at men.

Reference

Sexual Violence in Queensland and Australia – Key Facts: download PDF
Queensland Government - Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women