Missing, murdered and incarcerated Indigenous women in Australia: A literature review

This literature review examines the limited Australian evidence on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have disappeared, been murdered or been wrongfully incarcerated.

The review identifies a significant gap in Australian research, finding that only seven robust studies met the inclusion criteria despite evidence suggesting that missing, murdered and wrongfully incarcerated Indigenous women likely number in the hundreds or thousands. This lack of data has contributed to the issue remaining largely invisible in policy and public debate. The report also highlights that the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers is frequently overlooked, requiring many scholars and advocates to undertake additional advocacy simply to have their findings recognised.

Across the available literature, the review finds consistent evidence of systemic failures within policing, justice and support services. Indigenous women frequently experience racism, discrimination, inadequate investigations, institutional bias and service responses that reinforce harmful stereotypes rather than providing protection or justice. These systemic issues are linked to the ongoing impacts of colonisation, gendered violence and structural inequality.

The review recommends substantial investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research, improved national data collection, and stronger institutional support to better understand the scale of the issue. It also calls for an intersectional, human rights-based framework, similar to approaches adopted in Canada, to recognise missing, murdered and incarcerated Indigenous women as a distinct policy priority and strengthen prevention, accountability and justice.