The paper outlines international literature, previously unreleased data from the Australian Institute of Criminology's National Homicide Monitoring Program and case examples of fathers and mothers who have killed their children.
 
While these deaths are often described in the media as 'inexplicable', this new research highlights the significance of separation in filicides, gender differences between perpetrators and identifies links between the killing of children and violence against women.
 
The Discussion Paper is essential reading for people working with separating parents, or in family violence and child protection, and for anyone seeking to develop a better understanding of why these deaths occur and how they might be prevented.