There is an overrepresentation of family violence perpetrators in regional areas, a new data analysis shows.
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A Crime Statistics Agency report released on Friday revealed 23 per cent of family violence perpetrators live in regional areas, compared to 15 per cent of the population of Victoria.
The research identified typologies of family violence perpetrators using police records from 2016 and 2017.
Knowledge about perpetrators can assist in the continued development of effective interventions to prevent and respond to family violence in Victoria, the report states.
Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said the study found there were notable differences between groups of perpetrators.
The differences included demographic characteristics, risk factors identified by police, frequency of family violence perpetration and other offending behaviour.
"Our research identified two groups of prolific family violence perpetrators," she said.
"These perpetrators are the most likely to also perpetrate violence against non-family members, the most likely to be substance affected at the time of the incident, and the most likely to be unemployed."
The research found 74 per cent of recorded family violence perpetrators were male, with an average age of 35.5 years.
Though only 0.8 per cent of the Victorian population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait-Islander, 5 per cent of perpetrators in the study were identified as Aboriginal.
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The analysis revealed the most disadvantaged areas of Victoria were also substantially over-represented .
Data shows 50 per cent of perpetrators lived in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas of the state.
"While there is no question that family violence can occur across all socio-economic groups, previous research has highlighted that socio-economic disadvantage and financial pressures can interact with other forms of disadvantage and inequality to increase the risk of individuals perpetrating family violence," the report authors said.
Repeat offending by perpetrators also contributes disproportionately to recorded family violence.
Half of the perpetrators in the study had previously been recorded as the perpetrator of a family violence incident.
"It is possible that specialist perpetrators of family violence may have different needs and risk factors to be addressed than those who exhibit more general violent and other criminal behaviour," the report authors said.
There are specialist family violence perpetrator services in Ballarat, including the men's behaviour change program run by Child and Family Services (Cafs).
Cafs also provides case management and housing support to remove men from the family home as part of its family violence interventions.
All family violence services in the region can be access through the Orange Door in Ballarat, 1800 219 819.