Children and Young People

Children are often in danger of injury in a domestic violence situation. Witnessing abusive behaviour and living in a “climate of fear” is also harmful to children.

Workers who are concerned about children at imminent risk of serious danger should contact the police on 000.

For all other child protection concerns, mandatory reporters should use the Mandatory Reporting Guide decision tree tool to help them decide on a course of action.

www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au

Some effects of domestic violence on children:

• Feelings of fear, anger, depression, grief, shame, despair and distrust.

• A sense of powerlessness.

• Physical reactions such as stomach cramps, headaches, sleeping and eating difficulties, frequent illness.

• Slowed developmental capacities, poor school performance, low self-esteem, difficulty relating to peers.

• Substance abuse or glue sniffing.

• Behavioral problems such as running away from home, aggressive language and behaviour, acting out.

• Learning that violence is a legitimate means to get control of a situation or to solve conflict.

What can we do for children?

• Accept that an abusive family environment harms children.

• Place the responsibility for the violence with the offending parent.

• Support the abused parent, which can improve their capacity to protect their children.

• Most importantly, children who witness family violence need to know they are not forgotten.

Ways you can help

• Tell children that the violence is not their fault.

• Give them an opportunity to talk about the violence.

• Help make a safety plan which they can follow.

• Let them know that others have had similar experiences.

• Support and assist the mother to protect both herself and her children.

• Ring and discuss the situation with a domestic violence worker and/or the Child Protection Unit to find out how else you can help the children. 

  (Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria –“Family Violence Hurts kids too”)

Young People may have witnessed and/or experienced domestic violence in their family homes or in their own intimate relationships. They may be reluctant to disclose either types of abuse. Ask open questions and give them time and space to discuss their concerns.

Young people can present with the following feelings if they have lived in a home where they have witnessed and lived with domestic violence:

• Depression

• Stress

• Loss of confidence and self -worth

• Cautious or distrusting of others

• Lack of emotion to stressors

  (Sourced from Qld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research 2003)

“Children and young people are not merely passive onlookers… they are actively involved in seeking to make meaning of their experiences and in dealing with the difficult and terrifying situations which confront them.” Dr Lesley Laing – Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 2

Support Services