Filicide in Australia: A national study

Tragically, the incidence of filicide deaths in Australia (the deaths of children killed by a parent or guardian or equivalent) is high in comparison with other OECD countries (Pritchard, Davey & Williams, 2013). Furthermore... [ view full abstract ]

Tragically, the incidence of filicide deaths in Australia (the deaths of children killed by a parent or guardian or equivalent) is high in comparison with other OECD countries (Pritchard, Davey & Williams, 2013). Furthermore it does not appear to be diminishing substantially over time (Brown, Tyson, Fernandez, 2014). While there is a National Homicide Monitoring Program, which collects data on child homicides (including filicides), there has been limited in-depth research into filicide specifically, limiting attempts to better prevent filicide incidents. Research that can inform prevention efforts has been infrequent and no studies have covered all the states and territories of the nation. In 2015 a joint team from the Australian Institute of Criminology and Monash University (Arts and Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences) began the first national study on filicide in Australia. The study sought to develop better data on the incidence of filicide nationally, and in each state, and to identify patterns among perpetrators and victims from 2000 to 2012. The boundaries of childhood were extended to early adulthood because of the known occurrence of adult victims. The study incorporated all data on all incidents of filicide including the deaths of adult children over the age of 18. The study findings will be presented together with their implications for professional and organisational intervention.