Event Description

This webinar was recorded in June 2020 by the AASW WA Branch.

Data collected from women's refuges, found that fifty-four per cent of the 524 women seeking the support of women’s refuges and family and domestic violence services in 2018 had experienced non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner or ex-partner, including eight who were pregnant at the time. Six children also reported experiencing strangulation.

Of these women and children, only half were left with visible injuries. SARC data found when non-fatal strangulation was considered in the context of recent sexual assault among 1064 women referred to a sexual assault referral centre, 79 women (7.4%) reported experiencing strangulation during the sexual assault.

The Family Violence Legislation Reform Bill 2019 (WA) was introduced into the WA Parliament in November 2019. If the Bill passes, the Criminal Code will be amended to provide for two new offences, non-fatal strangulation and persistent family violence. (The Bill was subsequently passed and adopted in March 2020)

Topics covered include:

• What is Non-fatal Strangulation
• Health and legal issues
• Medical Information
• Research findings

AASW Credential: Family Violence



Presenters

Dr Debbie Smith: Senior Forensic Medical Officer at the Sexual Assault Resource Centre in Perth

Kedy Kristal: Policy Officer at the Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services