Designed for use by policymakers, practitioners and advocates, this guide synthesises findings from 20+ reports to outline key actions for consistent and effective policy responses supporting children and young people experiencing violence. It includes four principles that outline ways of working to underpin reform and eight priority areas for action.

The report finds that policies and service systems are failing to meet the needs of children and young people, particularly those with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, those from culturally and linguistically diverse families and LGBTQ+. The guide calls for significant policy and practice reforms that centre children and young people’s voices, acknowledge the profound and diverse impact of violence on their lives and move away from a reactive system to one that prioritises primary prevention.

 Four principles to underpin reform

1. There is no single experience of being a child or young person. When working to support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people we must use an intersectional approach.
2. Policy and service systems need to be rights-focused to avoid causing further harm.
3. Policy and system change needs to be supported by an authorising environment with supportive leadership, adequate resourcing, child-focused and DFSV-informed policies and procedures, and education and training.
4. The strengths, resilience and resistance of children and young people should be recognised and incorporated into trauma informed, strengths-based system responses.

Eight priority areas for action

1. Recognise the profound and diverse impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence on children and young people.
2. Centre the voices, strengths and needs of children and young people.
3. Prioritise primary prevention centring children and young people’s wellbeing and safety.
4. Acknowledge and act on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge of what is best for their children.
5. Design and deliver holistic child-centred systems, policies and supports.
6. Collaborate across systems to respond holistically to children and young people’s needs.
7. Invest in skill development in trauma- and domestic, family and sexual violence-informed care across systems and services.
8. Share knowledge across services working with disability; domestic, family and sexual violence; and children and young people.