A report on the impact of domestic and family violence on children and young people prepared by the Domestic Violence Prevention Council (DVPC) has been welcomed by the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette Berry.
Acknowledging the “significant expertise and experience of the many individuals and organisations that contributed to this work”, Ms Berry said the Council’s report contained a number of recommendations.
She said these included consulting children and young people to understand their needs and service preferences; increasing the availability of therapeutic trauma informed services for children and young people; and improving court and legal approaches to reduce the impact for children and young people involved in court processes.
Also recommended were training for people who work with children so they could recognise and respond to children and young people impacted by domestic and family violence; and using data to inform domestic and family violence strategies for children and young people.
Chair of the DVPC, Marcia Williams (pictured) said the recommendations had been shaped by input from a range of people across the ACT community with expertise and accountabilities for policies, services and systems.
“We also had people with lived experience of domestic and family violence share their perspectives on the impacts for children and young people,” Ms Williams said.
“We wanted the report to be about the practical things the ACT can do to improve supports for children and young people,” she said.
“This is because we heard that children and young people are impacted by violence in the home even when the violence is not directed at them, and so children witnessing and experiencing family and domestic violence have their own needs, in addition to the needs of the adults around them.”
The Council’s 24-page report to the Minister can be accessed at this PS News link.
