A new national study has found that more than one in three Australian men (35%) have used intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime, with an estimated 120,000 men beginning to use IPV each year.
These findings come from Ten to Men, a longitudinal study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), and mark the first national estimate of IPV perpetration among Australian men.
The research, which follows over 16,000 men aged 18–65 since 2013, shows an increase in self-reported IPV use from 24% in 2013–14 to 35% in 2022. Emotional abuse was the most commonly reported behaviour, with 32% stating they had made a partner feel frightened or anxious, while 9% reported using physical violence.
Sally Stevenson, Executive Director of Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and its project, the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, said the findings highlight areas for targeted prevention.
“This data provides a clear indication of the extent and nature of IPV use among men in Australia. The role of early relationships and support systems in reducing risk is an important focus for future programs and services,” Stevenson said.
“At the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, we provide long-term, trauma-informed support for women recovering from violence. Our multidisciplinary approach focuses on safety, well-being, and restoring control, recognising that recovery is often a complex and ongoing process.”
Ten To Men is the most extensive longitudinal study on male health in the world, and the only longitudinal study on Australian men with data on intimate partner violence. Funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the study has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013 (with an additional 10,000 men added in 2024-25), asking them about significant issues such as gambling, drinking, drug use, family violence, social connection and mental health.
The research identifies several key risk and protective factors. Men who had depressive symptoms or a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviours were significantly more likely to report starting to use IPV over the study period.
The study found that high levels of social support and high levels of paternal affection both reduced the likelihood of men using intimate partner violence.
Men who reported high levels of social support ‘all of the time’ were 26% less likely to report using intimate partner violence.
Men who felt strongly that they had a quality relationship with a father or father figure during childhood, marked with affection, were 48% less likely to report ever having used intimate partner violence.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin welcomed the report’s contribution to the evidence base.
“If we are going to achieve the National Plan objective to end gender-based violence in a generation, it is critical that we better understand pathways into using violence and, very importantly, both the protective factors and pathways out of using violence,” Cronin said. “This research delivers valuable insights and provides important guidance for where action and investment can be most effective.”
Dr Sean Martin, Ten to Men Program Lead at AIFS, noted the importance of these findings for shaping effective policy.
“This longitudinal data provides, for the first time, a set of risk factors to help support the development of effective policies and programs for young men,” Dr Martin said. “Depressive symptoms and a lack of social connection aren’t an excuse, as violence is always a choice, but they do signal where we could be building more supports around men early on.”
Stevenson emphasised the relevance of these findings to service delivery and prevention.
“These insights can inform more effective intervention strategies, particularly those that focus on mental health, relationship skills, and community connection,” she said.
For further information or support, contact the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre.