Ensuring the wellbeing and safety of children is paramount. Yet, filicide - the killing of one’s own child, is the second most common type of domestic homicide in Australia after intimate partner homicide. Despite overall domestic homicide rates decreasing, filicide remains consistent.  

This report, from ANROWS and the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network, presents the first national figures for filicides that have occurred in Australia in the context of domestic and family violence (DFV).

A significant 76 per cent of filicides in Australia occur within the context of DFV, involving a history of child abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), or both. These cases are referred to as DFV-context filicides. The finding highlights the importance of safeguarding children through better understanding the impact of violence and resourcing effective interventions.

Key findings

• In 9 in 10 (88%) cases, the research found a history of intimate partner violence.
• In 8 in 10 (78%) cases we found there was child abuse. This included physical, sexual or emotional violence perpetrated by a parent towards children, which includes the filicide victims and their siblings.
• When fathers killed their children, it often followed a history of perpetrating intimate partner violence.
• When mothers killed their children, it often followed a history of experiencing intimate partner violence.