VICTIMS OF ASSAULT - VICTORIA
In 2010, there were 28,500 victims of assault in Victoria, with an overall victimisation rate of 513.7 victims per 100,000 persons.
Sex and Age
Males accounted for 56% (15,850) of victims of assault, compared to 42% (12,030) female assault victims. For both males and females, the highest proportion of victims were aged between 25 and 34 years, comprising 25% (3,949) of all assault victims for males and 26% (3,062) for females.
Relationship of offender to victim
In 2010, male victims were most likely to be assaulted by a person unknown to them, with 36% (5,777) of male victims identifying the offender as a stranger. This is contrary to females, with 41% (4,929) of victims identifying a family member as the offender. In 11% (1,763) of cases, male victims in Victoria were assaulted by a family member.
Victims of assault, Sex by relationship of offender to victim-Victoria
![Graph: Victims of assault, Sex by relationship of offender to victim–Victoria](/ausstats/abs@.nsf/91f72cb52e908514ca25709f0000a6a8/e83d39a1a4fb2ffcca2578b7001190c9/Body/0.632!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Weapon use and Location of offence
Assault victims in Victoria were most likely to be assaulted without a weapon (90%), than with a weapon (10%). The most common location of assaults for male victims was in community areas (47% or 7,399 victims), followed by residential locations (31% or 4,918 victims). For females, the most common location for assaults was in residential locations (63% or 7,538 victims), followed by community areas (24% or 2,919 victims).