Results from this survey differ from those obtained in the last ABS Crime and Safety Survey, although both surveys reveal low occurrences of physical and sexual assault. The Crime and Safety Survey is a general crime victimisation survey where personal assault is just one component of the whole survey. On the other hand the Women's Safety Survey is a detailed survey with a specific focus on physical and sexual violence against women. Therefore, the Women's Safety Survey would be expected to provide better estimates of violence against women than the more general survey on crime and safety. For the same reason, great care should be taken in comparing figures from the two surveys.
Physical assault involves the use of physical force with the intent to harm or frighten a woman.
An attempt or threat to inflict physical harm is included only if a woman believes it is able and likely to be carried out. Sexual assault includes acts of a sexual nature carried out against a woman's will through the use of physical force, intimidation or coercion, or any attempts to do this. Unwanted sexual touching is excluded from sexual assault. Sexual threat involves the threat of an act of a sexual nature which the woman believes is able and likely to be carried out. Women were nearly four times more likely to experience violence by a man than by a woman.