Experiences of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Among Women International Students in Australia

Sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in tertiary institutions have received increased attention in Australia and globally, however, international students have been largely neglected in academic and policy discourse. Little is known about the nature and frequency of SV and IPV experienced by these students, nor what sociodemographic factors are associated with victimization. This article reports on a national cross-sectional survey of 1,491 women international students in Australia. Findings suggest that both SV and IPV are common among women international students and primarily perpetrated by men. Social support, housing stress, and financial insecurity were associated with an increased likelihood of victimization, highlighting critical areas for improvement in government policies and tertiary institutions.