Australia faces calls for reform as children's violence services remain adult-centric

A new national report in Australia highlights that two in five children experience domestic and family violence, yet current support systems remain ‘adult-centric’ and fail to meet their specific needs. The report, supported by over 200 experts and frontline workers, argues that children are often treated as dependents rather than victim-survivors with distinct trauma and recovery requirements. Significant barriers include lengthy waiting lists for specialist therapeutic support, with some services reporting delays of up to six months.

Disparities in access are particularly pronounced for First Nations children, those in rural or remote areas, children living with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ youth. The report calls for 20 specific government actions, emphasizing the need to include children’s voices in policy design and decision-making to ensure services are effective.

In a related effort to strengthen the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, submissions have been made regarding the engagement of men and boys in violence prevention. Experts suggest that while men’s health approaches offer opportunities to reach new audiences, they must be paired with gender-transformative frameworks that address gender inequality and structural drivers of violence to achieve lasting population-level change.