Children regularly exposed to family violence, damning report reveals

A damning report has revealed nearly two thirds of Victorian children are being exposed to family violence before the age of 10.

Thousands of children are witnessing family violence at home, with nearly two thirds of those exposed by the age of 10.

Alarming new Crime Statistics Agency research found more than 1 in 50 Victorian children witnessed family violence in the 2018-19 financial year.

Chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said 32,705 children were recorded as having been present at or affected by a family incident.

Bethany Group executive manager access, support and family services Bernadette McCartney said many cases where children were exposed to family violence went unreported.

“We know that children and young people’s presence isn’t always noted in family violence incidents that can be chaotic, highly charged with yelling screaming and acts of physical violence,” Ms McCartney said.

“It is common for children and young people to attempt to remain hidden in order to achieve maximum safety for themselves and often their siblings.

“We have had examples where children have hidden under beds, behind furniture and outside to protect themselves from perpetrator behaviour.”

Ms McCartney said it was “critical” authorities recorded instances where children were exposed to family violence.

“The royal commission into family violence identified that children and young people were often ignored when Police attended incidents of family violence,” she said.

Ms McCartney said Bethany provided therapeutic support to around 100 children and young people a year.

She family violence exposure could impact children significantly.

Ms McCartney said infants and young people exposed to family violence were more likely to miss key developmental experiences, could experience physical harm and may manifest physical symptoms of stress and distress.

According to the report, many of the children recorded as witnesses at a police attended incident were very young, with nearly two thirds of children under the age of 10 years old at the date of the incident.

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Originally published as Children regularly exposed to family violence, damning report reveals