Little has been done to understand what works to support First Nations children and young people to heal from their experiences of violence. This research project explores how services and systems can better respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people exposed to DFV who come to the attention of child protection systems.

Led by the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP), a team of First Nations researchers, supported by non-Indigenous researchers, utilised a participatory action research methodology – ensuring cultural safety and adherence to cultural values and protocols, including co-creation of knowledge.

This report, the first in a series for this project, presents the results of a literature review and the findings from the initial cycles of action research conducted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chief investigators, community researchers and practitioners working in eight community-controlled child and family services across Queensland.

The literature review and the outcomes of the initial action research cycle confirmed that the experience of domestic and family violence (DFV) in childhood is resulting in negative lifelong outcomes for First Nations children, including increased interactions with the child protection and justice systems. The researchers also found that these responses (child protection and justice) are not adequate or culturally safe.