Research, factsheets, practice tools, and webinars examining the full impact of family violence and sexual violence on children and young people, offering insights to improve support systems for their wellbeing.
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Tash : A short film by Natasha Anderson (Family Safety Victoria, 2021)
Research
Tug of war | Jack*, 2025 | Read moreExplores how loyalty conflicts, fear, and pressure shape children’s relationships with adults around them.
A literature review of therapeutic intervention with young survivors of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect | Mary Jo McVeigh, 2025 | Read moreReviews therapeutic approaches for young survivors and highlights a persistent gap between adult centred evaluation and children’s lived experiences.
Seeking help in their own right: Young victim-survivors’ experiences of family violence crisis responses in Victoria | Safe Steps, 2025 | Read more
‘We have a part to play’: How children and young people want adults to engage them in the primary prevention of child abuse and maltreatment | Tim Moore; Morag McArthur, 2024 | Read moreThis article shares the perspectives of children and young people on their role in prevention of abuse and maltreatment.
Coercive control and situational couple violence in families with child protection involvement: A case-file analysis | Ulrike Marwitz, Daryl J. Higgins and Thomas Whelan, 2024 | Read moreThis study analyses child protection case files to distinguish coercive control from situational couple violence and examines how these patterns shape risk, child safety, and intervention outcomes.
Filicide: Implications of new research for practice | Thea C. Brown; Danielle Tyson; Paula Fernandez Arias, 2025 | Read moreThis article synthesises new Australian research on filicide and outlines key predictors, risk patterns, and systemic gaps identified in coronial and case review material.
Revisiting cumulative harm: Reflecting on new research insights, legislative developments and coronial evidence as a road map for next steps | India Bryce, 2024 | Read moreThis review revisits the concept of cumulative harm through recent research, legislative changes, and coronial findings, making the case that cumulative harm remains an under-recognised driver of poor outcomes for children.
Exposure to intimate partner violence and the physical and emotional abuse of children | Australian Institute of Criminology, 2023 | Read moreThis research report presents findings from a survey of 3775 female carers, focusing on children’s exposure to intimate partner violence and the carers’ experiences of physical and emotional abuse.
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study | The ACMS Study, 2023 | Read moreThis first large-scale Australian study reports on the prevalence of child maltreatment, including child sexual abuse, its association with mental illness and its impact on health risk behaviours and conditions.
Amplify: Turning up the volume on young people and family violence | Melbourne City Mission, 2021 | Read moreThis project seeks to understand the service system gaps for young people who are experiencing family violence in the home or from an intimate partner and aims to map a way forward.
You can’t pour from an empty cup | ANROWS, 2019 | Read moreResearch findings about the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have both experienced domestic and family violence and had contact with the child protection system.
Looking for more? Check out the full catalogue of resources on this topic
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Webinars
Conversations focusing on effective supports and programs for families and children experiencing or recovering from family violence and/or sexual violence, looking at both prevention and response.
Training
Training opportunities to enhance the knowledge and skills you need when working with children and young people who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence.
Factsheets and practice tools
Supporting children and young people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence | ANROWS, 2026 Designed for frontline workers, offering practical, evidence-informed prompts. Particularly relevant for practitioners working in regional and rural contexts, where service gaps, confidentiality risks and workforce pressures shape how support is delivered. | Check it out!
Providing tailored and inclusive support | Safe and Equal, 2025 Safe + Equal have developed this information for practitioners on understanding impacts, risk and safety considerations, signs of family violence, practice considerations, as well as tools and resources. This paper guides practitioners in delivering services that meet the safety and support needs of children and young people | Check it out!
Harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people | SASVic, 2024 | Read moreFact sheet about harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people aimed at parents and carers which covers: what is normal sexual behaviour in children and young people? When is sexual behaviour in children and young people harmful? What do I do if my child is displaying these behaviours?
CHANGE Children’s Feedback Tool | Southern Cross University, 2024Funded by the Victorian Government, the Tool has been created alongside, and informed by the insights, experiences and ideas of, children and young people with lived experience of family violence. The Tool is a practical, interactive resource for practitioners, organisations and government agencies working with children and young people who have experienced family violence | Check it out!
Safe and Secure Practice Guide | ACF, 2023 | Read moreSafe and Secure is a practical, evidence-informed guide for adults who care for or work with children affected by family and domestic violence. It explains how early experiences of harm can impact children’s development, behaviour and relationships—and what adults can do to support healing.
The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) family violence fact sheet | VACCA, 2022 | Read moreAn overview of family violence, including statistics that highlight the disproportionate impact of family violence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
PERCS conversation guide | Emerging Minds, 2021 | Read moreDesigned to support specialist and non-specialist practitioners to have collaborative, respectful conversations with parent–clients about how family violence can affect the whole family. It recognises that all parents want to be the best parent they can be, even in the context of family violence, and that collaborating with parents is the most effective way to support a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.
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The information provided on this Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub is curated to be the most recent and relevant available. While the content is continually being developed and will be regularly updated to reflect the latest insights and best practices, these resources are not exhaustive. While we strive to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of the information, we encourage users to check back frequently for new and refreshed materials, and to contact the relevant peak body if you would like more information about family violence, sexual violence and/or working with children and families in this context.
