The WP Survey explored the demographic background of family violence and sexual assault specialists responding to the survey.
Gender
87% of those who responded (913 persons) identified as female, with 9% (91 persons) identifying as male and 2% (24 persons) identifying as self-described (Table 25).
Table 25: What gender do you identify as?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Female | 913 | 87% |
| Male | 91 | 9% |
| Self-described | 24 | 2% |
| Prefer not to say | 18 | 2% |
| Grand total | 1,046 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 3 |
Source. Question 20, WP Survey 2022[13]
While about the same proportion of young and older people identified as female, fewer young people identify as male. 6% of those under 35 identify as male, compared to 10% of those 35 or older.
Age
35% of those who responded (370 persons) were under 35 years, with the largest age group in the sample being 30-34 years, with 16% (170 persons), and 25-29 years being the second largest with 16% (167 persons) (Table 26).
Table 26: How old are you?
| Count | Percentage | |
| 20 to 24 years | 33 | 3% |
| 25 to 29 years | 167 | 16% |
| 30 to 34 years | 170 | 16% |
| 35 to 39 years | 132 | 13% |
| 40 to 44 years | 114 | 11% |
| 45 to 49 years | 119 | 11% |
| 50 to 54 years | 109 | 10% |
| 55 to 59 years | 80 | 8% |
| 60 to 64 years | 64 | 6% |
| 65 to 69 years | 16 | 2% |
| 70 to 74 years | <5 | <1% |
| 75 to 79 years | <5 | <1% |
| Prefer not to say | 37 | 4% |
| Grand total | 1,043 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 6 |
Source. Question 22, WP Survey 2022
Sexual orientation
68% of those who responded (715 persons) identified as heterosexual / other gender attracted, with 13% (135 persons) identifying as multi-gender attracted, 6% (67 persons) identifying as same sex / gender attracted and 1% (7 persons) identifying as asexual (Table 27).
Table 27: How would you describe your sexual orientation?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Heterosexual/other gender attracted | 715 | 68% |
| Same sex/gender attracted | 67 | 6% |
| Multi-gender attracted | 135 | 13% |
| Asexual | 7 | <1% |
| None of the above | 14 | 1% |
| Prefer not to say | 108 | 10% |
| Grand total | 1,046 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 3 |
Source. Question 21, WP Survey 2022[14]
Fewer young people identified as heterosexual. 66% of those under 35 identified as heterosexual, compared to 73% of those 35 and over. 20% of those under 35 identified as multigender attracted, compared to 9% of those 35 and over. In contrast, the same proportion (7%) identified as same sex attracted.
A larger proportion of people living in the regions identified as heterosexual, with 73% of those delivering service in regional Victoria identifying as heterosexual compared to 65% of those living in Melbourne.
Also, a larger proportion of people employed by large organisations identified as heterosexual, with 73% of those in large organisations identified as heterosexual compared to 65% of those in other organisations.
Finally, a larger proportion of people employed on an insecure basis identified as same sex attracted. 9% of those employed in insecure work identified as same sex attracted compared to 6% of those in secure employment. Likewise, 69% of those in secure employment identified as heterosexual, compared to 65% of those in insecure work.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
5% of those who responded (48 persons) identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, including 4% (45 persons) who identified as Aboriginal and others who identified as Torres Strait Islander or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Table 28).
Table 28: Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Yes - Aboriginal | 45 | 4% |
| Yes - Torres Strait Islander | <5 | <1% |
| Yes - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | <5 | <1% |
| No | 970 | 93% |
| Prefer not to say | 22 | 2% |
| Grand total | 1,040 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 9 |
Source. Question 24, WP Survey 2022[15]
A larger proportion of people working in regions identified as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander. 7% of people delivering services into regional Victoria identified as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander compared to 3% of people delivering services in metropolitan Melbourne.
Cultural or ethnic background
The WP Survey asked a series of questions to explore cultural diversity, given the complexities with which cultural and ethnic background is commonly understood. These included questions about birthplace and language spoken at home, as well as ancestry to account for cultural diversity across second and third generation migrants.
21% of those who responded (215 persons) were born overseas, with 77% (799 persons) born in Australia (Table 29). The 5 most common countries of birth other than Australia were the United Kingdom (5%), India (3%), New Zealand (2%), China (2%) and Sri Lanka (8%). All countries of birth with 5 persons or above are identified below in Table 29.
Table 29: In which country were you born?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Australia | 799 | 77% |
| United Kingdom | 48 | 5% |
| India | 27 | 3% |
| New Zealand | 21 | 2% |
| China | 14 | 1% |
| Sri Lanka | 8 | <1% |
| South Africa | 7 | <1% |
| Canada | 6 | <1% |
| Prefer not to say | 27 | 3% |
| Other | 71 | 7% |
| Grand total | 1,041 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 8 |
Source. Question 25, WP Survey 2022
A larger proportion of people working in regions were born in Australia. 85% of people delivering services into the regions identified as being born in Australia, compared to 71% of people delivering services in Melbourne.
Australian was the most common ancestry, with 67% of those who responded to this question identifying Australian as one of their 2 ancestries (Table 30).[16] The 5 most common ancestries other than Australian were English (11%), Irish (5%), Scottish (4%), Indian (3%) and Italian (3%). Compared with country of birth, ancestry responses indicated in many instances higher levels of cultural diversity in the sample with 3% (32 persons) identifying from Italian ancestry, 3% (28 persons) identifying from Chinese ancestry and 2% (21 persons) identifying from Greek ancestry.
Table 30: What cultural background or ethnicity do you identify with?
| Frequency | % Persons | |
| Australian | 698 | 67% |
| English | 114 | 11% |
| Irish | 57 | 5% |
| Scottish | 43 | 4% |
| Indian | 36 | 4% |
| Italian | 32 | 3% |
| Chinese | 28 | 3% |
| Greek | 21 | 2% |
| German | 16 | 2% |
| Other | 185 | 18% |
| Prefer not to say | 35 | 3% |
| Grand total | 1,265 |
Source. Question 26, WP Survey 2022[17]
Language spoken at home and work
91% of those who responded (956 persons) described English as either the only, or one of, the main languages spoken at home (Table 31). Other than English, the 5 most common languages spoken at home were Mandarin (2%), Spanish (1%), Arabic (1%), Hindi (1%) and an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language (1%).
Table 31: Which language(s) do you mainly speak at home?
| Count | Percentage | |
| English | 956 | 91% |
| Mandarin | 17 | 2% |
| Spanish | 15 | 1% |
| Arabic | 11 | 1% |
| Hindi | 11 | 1% |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language | 9 | <1% |
| Punjabi | 9 | <1% |
| Greek | 8 | <1% |
| Cantonese | 7 | <1% |
| Vietnamese | 8 | <1% |
| Other | 67 | 6% |
| Prefer not to say | 8 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,034 |
Source. Question 27, WP Survey 2022[18]
Of the 145 respondents who spoke a language other than English at home, 78 stated they used that language in their family violence or sexual assault role or roles (Table 32).
While non-English language ability is reflected in a small proportion of the overall sample, 54% of specialists who did speak a language other than English at home were able to use these skills in the course of their employment.
Table 32: Do you use language(s) to carry out your role or roles?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Yes | 78 | 54% |
| No | 66 | 46% |
| Prefer not to say | <5 | <1% |
| Total | 145 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 8 |
Source. Question 27A, WP Survey 2022
From this small group who spoke a language other than English, 55% of those delivering services into the Melbourne metropolitan area used another language to carry out their role, compared to 49% delivering services into the regions.
A larger proportion of older people used another language in their capacity at work. 57% of those 35 and over, used another language to carry out their role, compared to 52% of those under 35.
Of the same group, only 46% of people working in a large organisation used it at work, where 64% of those who spoke another language in ‘other’ organisations used it at work. Also, a smaller proportion of those without job security used another language in their capacity at work. 55% of those in secure employment used another language to carry out their role, compared to 50% of those in insecure employment.
Disability or impairment impacting employment
10% of those who responded (104 persons) identified they had a long-term health condition or disability that affected their participation in work (Table 33).
Table 33: Does a long-term health condition or disability affect your participation in work (paid and/or volunteering)?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Yes | 104 | 10% |
| No | 904 | 87% |
| Don't know/unsure | 28 | 3% |
| Grand total | 1,036 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 13 |
Source. Question 28A, WP Survey 2022[19]
A larger proportion of young people identified as having a health condition or disability that affected their participation in work. 13% of those under 35 had a long-term health condition or disability that affected their participation in work, compared to 8% of those 35 and over.
There was little difference between workers who had a long-term health condition or disability that affected their participation in work based on organisational size.
Education attainment
81% reported a Bachelor qualification or above as their highest level of educational attainment (857 persons) (Table 34), with more than a half of those who responded (572 persons) listing a postgraduate qualification as their highest level of educational attainment.
Table 34: Which of the following have you completed?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Year 12 or below | 5 | <1% |
| Certificate I to IV | 22 | 2% |
| Diploma or advanced diploma | 160 | 15% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 276 | 26% |
| Graduate diploma or graduate certificate | 200 | 19% |
| Master’s degree | 349 | 33% |
| Doctorate degree | 23 | 2% |
| Prefer not to say | 9 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,044 | |
| Missing/Skipped question | 5 |
Source. Question 23, WP Survey 2022[20]
Young people were much more likely to hold a post-secondary higher education qualification than older people. 87% of people under 35 stated their highest attainment was a Bachelor’s degree, a graduate certificate or diploma, a Master’s degree or Doctoral degree, compared to 80% of those 35 or older. 44% of people under 35 held a Master’s or doctoral degree, compared with 31% of those 35 or older.
Notably, there was little difference in post-secondary higher education attainment, based on the size of the organisation the person worked for.
Main field of study
The survey invited anyone who had attained a postsecondary qualification to nominate their field of study, including those who had attained a VET qualification. Amongst those who responded, 38% (395 persons) described social work as their main field of study. The other main fields of study included community services (141 persons), psychology (124 persons) and counselling (79 persons) (Table 35).
Table 35: What was your main field of study in your highest qualification?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Social work | 395 | 38% |
| Community services | 141 | 14% |
| Psychology | 124 | 12% |
| Counselling | 79 | 8% |
| Family Violence | 37 | 4% |
| Social science | 31 | 3% |
| Criminology/Legal studies | 17 | 2% |
| Arts / Humanities | 17 | 2% |
| Youth work | 13 | 1% |
| Community development | 12 | 1% |
| Client assessment and case management | 12 | 1% |
| Other | 142 | 14% |
| Prefer not to say | 7 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,027 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 22 |
Source. Question 23A, WP Survey 2022
A larger proportion of young people had completed a social work qualification. 49% of people under 35 had completed a qualification in social work, compared to 35% of those 35 and over.
Notes
[13] The self-described category includes the following self-identified gender identities: non-binary, genderqueer, trans, agender, gender fluid and no specification.
[14] Options provided in the WP Survey's sexual orientation question were modified from the Victorian's Government's Data collection standards, based on preferences identified within the sector.
[15] The survey enabled respondents to click yes to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
[16] In the survey you were unable to nominate the same ancestry twice, but you could nominate 2 different ancestries and either one ancestry or none.
[17] In this question, those who responded were provided the opportunity to nominate up to 2 ancestries.
[18] This question allowed for more than one language spoken at home to be nominated.
[19] As many as 1 in 5 Australians identify as having a disability or impairment, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The survey asked a more specific question about disability or impairment that impacts upon participation in work, similar to the language used in the ABS Census.
[20] The result has been modified from the original question and validated to address highest attainment instead of all qualifications completed.
Updated