The cost of domestic violence in Australia is enormous.

There are tangible costs eg:

• crisis accommodation
• legal
• income
• medical
• damaged items

Intangible costs eg:

• pain
• fear
• suffering
• changing schools
• lost income

Opportunity costs eg:

• loss of employment
• loss of promotion
• loss of quality of life

A recent study on the costs of domestic violence (Access Economics 2004) concluded that the cost of domestic violence was estimated at $8.1 billion per annum.

Some studies imply that costings have not included children and if they do, it would have immense implications. Even if the most extreme position were not adopted, research indicates that domestic violence and child abuse co-occur in 30-60% of cases (Edleson 1999). Hence calculations of the costs of domestic violence that include costs of child abuse in 30-60% of cases would be significantly higher than estimates to date.

One study stated...”in no way can we “cost” the horrifying physical and psychological damage of the violence to the women and their children”. (Kerr & McLean 1996, p3).