Abstract
General Overview: This Australian discussion paper reviews the current state of knowledge about disability caused by violence against women and children, with the aim of raising public awareness and discussion.

Discussion: The author draws on published material, interviews with women with violence-induced disabilities and the reports of workers working with children to present a picture of the issue for women and children living in Australia. She outlines the risks to children resulting from violence during pregnancy and shaken baby syndrome, as well as the psychological injuries that may result from children experiencing violence against their mothers. Women experiencing domestic violence are also vulnerable to psychological injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Acquired Brain Injury can be a hidden consequence of violence. The experiences of older women are given particular attention.

For both women and children, being labelled “disabled” can result in access to services but the violence that caused the disability is ignored. Naming the injury “violence-induced disability” serves to make the cause visible.

The author reviews Commonwealth and Victorian Governments’ policies and programs on violence against women and children, and identifies gaps in service delivery. She makes recommendation for coordination of services, improved access to services, better data collection, community education campaigns and public health campaigns to better address this issue.