Symposium Presentations
Starting with the young person: Reframing how we understand and respond earlier to adolescent violence in the home
Funded by Family Safety Victoria (FSV) and in consultation with Domestic Violence Victoria, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare is leading an initiative aimed at identifying, translating and embedding the best available research and practice expertise to build the evidence base in relation to adolescents who use violence in the home.
Studies show that children and adolescents who use violence in the home are often themselves victims or witnesses of family violence or child abuse. Adverse childhood experiences, mental health problems, disability, learning difficulties, and problematic substance use can also contribute to use of violence. When these situations reach crisis point, police and legal interventions are often necessary. However, this line of response represents a critical missed opportunity for services to intervene early with developmentally appropriate, therapeutic approaches.
The Centre and FSV recently co-hosted a symposium that brought together peak bodies, sector leaders, academics and government stakeholders to better understand the nature of this issue and how we can respond earlier to support young people and families.
This event was held in Melbourne’s State Library. You can view a photo gallery from the symposium here. A number of these presentations have been recorded and have been made available for you to view.
Facilitator
Professor Cathy Humphreys – University of Melbourne
Opening Address
Annette Lancy, Acting CEO of Family Safety Victoria
Setting the Policy Scene
Deb Tsorbaris, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare – Towards Common Ground
Elena Campbell, Centre for Innovative Justice – Legal responses to adolescent violence in the home – doing more harm than good?
Dr. Kate Fitz-Gibbon and Associate Professor Silke Meyer, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre – The experiences of young people and mothers affected by adolescent and intimate partner violence in the home
Evidence-informed and promising practice
Larisa Freiverts, Anglicare – Responding effectively to families impacted by adolescent to parent violence
Karen Field, drummond street services – Addressing Adolescent Violence in the Home: An Integrated Service Response
Susana Dudas e Silva, Domestic Violence Crisis Service (Canberra) – Young People’s Outreach Program (YPOP)
Deb Berg & Gregory Sloan, Mallee District Aboriginal Service (MDAS) – Adolescent Family Violence Program
Kristen Meyer, Women’s Health West – Centring the child’s experience in counselling “post” family violence: Using Creative Therapy with 0-17 year olds
William Wainwright & Kylie Williams, OzChild – Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
Peninsula Health, Ballarat CAFS, Barwon Child, Youth & Family Services and Sexual Abuse & Family Violence Centre – Implementation of AFV program across three sites
Tania Hancock & Crystal Milesevic, Quantum Support Services – Adolescent Building Connections (ABC) Program: A respectful relationships program
Travis Harries, Deakin University – Age Expansion and Evaluation of the Step Up, Building Healthy Relationships program (poster presentation)
From the young person’s perspective
David Burck, University of Qld – Knowing that they hurt their mum is really hard: Preliminary themes from young people using AVITH
Liana Buchanan, Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People – Action on adolescent family violence: in everyone’s interest
Vicky Baker, University of Central Lancashire – Adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse: The experiences and perceptions of young people
The role of other sectors
Karen Dimmock, Association for Children with a Disability – When disability is a factor in adolescent behaviour
Kyra Low, Department of Justice and Community Safety – Addressing adolescent family violence during involvement with Youth Justice
Michael Keane & Vicki Quinton, Royal Children’s Hospital – Gatehouse Centre – REFOCUS Program: A program for children & adolescents who exhibit problematic and harmful sexual behaviour and their families
Malia Dewse & Tania Last, Department of Education and Training (DET) – Earlier identification and improved intervention: New opportunities in the education system to support adolescents using family violence
Emma Morgan, Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) & Tamara White, Centre for Family Research & Evaluation (CFRE) – Every Opportunity for Change: Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People Experiencing and/or Using Violence in their Interpersonal Relationships
Senior Sergeant Dagmar Andersen & Narelle Goodland, Victoria Police – Police strategy and training in response to adolescent violence in the home
Panel session
How do we work together to intervene earlier?
Facilitated by Marcia Neave AO, Former Commissioner – RCFV
Dean McWhirter, Assistant Commissioner – Victoria Police
Anita Morris, Principal Practitioner – DHHS
Alison MacDonald, Acting CEO – Domestic Violence Victoria
Leeanne Anthony, Manager Recovery and Healing – Family Safety Victoria
Click here to find out more about other work the Centre is doing in relation to adolescent violence in the home. For further queries, please contact Michele Lonsdale at michele.lonsdale@cfecfw.asn.au
