A survey of more than 17 thousand Australians looking at violence against women has found many continue to apportion blame to the victim.
One in five agreed that a woman is partly responsible for rape if she's intoxicated.
Nearly two-thirds said violence is caused by men being unable to control their anger.
And more than 40 per cent believed men rape because they can't control their need for sex.
Kristy McKellar was a victim of repeated abuse. Her tormentor was her ex-husband.
"I was a victim of unspeakable cruelty. I was fortunate not to be that one woman who is killed every week by their current or former partner," said Ms McKellar.
"Violence is a choice and it is never acceptable. No matter what walk of life you are from, these facts are universally correct."
The report's co-author, Doctor Michael Flood, says it's "depressing" that people are still blaming intoxication, sex drive and anger for violence.
"We blame the victim,” said Dr Flood.
“We see women as liars, we really do. We don't trust them. We see men as lust-driven pigs that can't be held accountable for their sexual behaviour."
Attitudes haven't changed much since VicHealth conducted its first survey almost 20-years ago in 1995.
But the Minister assisting the Prime Minister on women's affairs, Michaelia Cash, believes a turning point has been reached.
"I truly do believe that we have created a tsunami of awareness and a tsunami of support. And we need to keep that momentum going," she said.
The chief Executive of VicHealth, Jerril Rechter, says most people now understand that domestic violence is illegal.
But she warns behaviour change will take time.
"Attitude and behaviour change takes decades and that's the reality, Ms Rechter said. If you look at the attitudes and behaviours around not wearing seat belts or smoking in pubs - once it was acceptable to do both and now it's not."
The Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Ken Lay, says the whole community - young, old, male, female - needs to stand up against violence targeting women.
"As men we have to start having hard conversations with our mates, our sons, our colleagues and our team mates. We need to change the language, the attitude and the misogynistic behaviour that lies at the heart of male violence against women."
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