The International Violence Against Women Survey was conducted across Australia between December 2002 and June 2003. A total of 6677 women participated in the survey, and provided information on their experiences of physical and sexual violence.

Jenny Mouzos and Toni Makkai describe the type of violence (including threats of violence) by current and former intimate male partners, other known males, such as relatives, friends and acquaintances, and strangers. They also examine women's reported experiences of childhood violence, as well as their perceptions and reactions to the violence they experienced.