The impact of domestic and family violence on children and young people is profound, extending beyond immediate harm to long-term developmental effects. Children and young people are harmed by seeing and hearing violence, by the effects of coercive control and the relational dynamics set up by perpetrators of violence, and by the impacts of their mother’s stress and distress. They require enduring safety, support to navigate their experiences, and reassurance that their life won't be defined by the violence. The Australian Childhood Foundation has developed an interactive learning series on family violence for practitioners who are seeking resources to support effective, evidence-informed, trauma-responsive practice to support children and young people affected by family violence.
