This paper discusses a study that provides a profile of victims of assault that resulted in hospitalisation and death. Data is provided on the nature of their injuries, and the circumstances in which they were inflicted. National injury mortality data for the period 1978-1987, supplemented by reference to files of the Coroners Court and the High Court, and injury morbidity data for 1988 were examined. The overall homicide rate was 1.6 per 100,000 persons per year and the overall incidence rate for hospitalisations was 73.7 per 100,000 persons per year. In terms of how the assaults and deaths occurred, some statistics are available for family violence related incidents. In the category of child battering and other maltreatment, 31 homicides were recorded and 21 of these were perpetrated by a parent or surrogate parent. Almost half of the homicides took place in or around private homes. Information on the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator was available in 73% of the cases. In 21.1% of these, the perpetrator was known to the victim through an existing or former relationship, including marriage, de facto marriage, long-term sexual relationship, or brief sexual relationship. The interactions and stresses that contribute to family violence are not discussed as they were considered beyond the scope of this report.

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