Children and young people should be treated as DFV victim-survivors in their own right, not simply as dependents of a parent who is a victim-survivor. This requires an approach that upholds the safety of children and young people, protects their human rights and incorporates their voices in decisions that affect them.
The following resources may be helpful in implementing support for children and young people:
- Australian Childhood Foundation, Safe & Secure – A trauma informed practice guide for understanding and responding to children and young people affected by family violence
This publication defines the basic goals that need to be met for children and young people to recover from the traumatic impacts of DFV and provides practice guidance for achieving these goals.
- Child Family Community Australia, Evidence-based principles for supporting the recovery of children in care
Although applied to children in care, the principles in this practitioner resource are transferable to the supports that can be considered and provided in a refuge environment.
- Orygen,The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, has produced some useful resources on trauma-informed care for children and young people (aged 12 to 25). These include:
- Trauma-informed care toolkit
- Trauma-informed care clinical practice note
Both of these cover what trauma-informed care is and how to implement it in your organisation, including key issues to consider before, during, and after implementation.
- NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian, Child Safe Standards
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended 10 child safe standards to help make organisations safe for children. These standards, as well as guidance on how to implement them, are now available through the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
- The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Refuge for Babies in Crisis
This resource provides guidance on how crisis accommodation services can provide support to infants and their mothers affected by family violence.
- Youth Action, NSW Youth Development Framework
This covers principles (still under development) for evidence-based practice with young people.
Practitioners should keep in mind their mandatory reporting obligations in the event that there is a risk of significant harm to a child or young person. More information on mandatory reporting requirements can be found on the NSW Department of Communities and Justice website here.