Children, young people and family violence

Children and young people can be affected by family violence in many ways.

Learn about the impact of family violence, how to make a report, and what Victoria Police do to protect children and young people.

How family violence affects children and young people

When a family member harms a child or young person, it can be family violence. This can include family violence used by parents, other family members, or caregivers.

It can also include experiencing harm from other children and young people in the family.

Children and young people may be directly targeted by people who use family violence. They can also experience family violence indirectly when the harm is directed at someone else.

Children and young people can still experience family violence even if they are not physically present when it is happening in their family.

Family violence can affect children and young people’s health and development in many ways.

Signs of trauma caused by family violence

When someone experiences family violence, they can also experience longer-term harm through trauma.

Signs of trauma will be different for every child and young person, depending on their age and situation. In addition to any physical harm they’re experiencing, trauma response signs can include:

• trouble sleeping or eating
• problems focusing at school, not attending school or leaving school during the day
• being withdrawn, or not being able to make or keep friends
• not being able to empathise with other people
• delays or regression in social, emotional or physical development
• change in mood
• excessive clinginess or being worried around new people
• change in behaviour around specific people
• low self-esteem
• mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.

How to report family violence or child abuse to Victoria Police

To learn how to report family violence or child abuse to Victoria Police, visit Report family violence or Report child abuse.

Who you can talk to at Victoria Police

You can ask to speak to a specialist officer if you are worried about a child or young person impacted by or using violence.

We have a range of specialist police, including:

• Detectives in the Family Violence Investigation Unit (FVIU)
• Detectives in the Sexual Offences and Child Investigation Team (SOCIT)
• Youth Specialist Officers (YSO), and
• Youth Resource Officers (YRO).

How Victoria Police protect children and young people from family violence

Victoria Police will consider the safety and wellbeing of every child individually.

We recognise that children and young people living in homes where there is family violence have individual experiences and needs. They can be different to those of the adults and other children in their home.

When family violence is reported to Victoria Police, we will take action to protect children and young people.

We will:

• Ask adult victim-survivors questions about their children and their experience of family violence. Depending on the child’s age and development, we may also speak directly with the child or young person to check on their safety and wellbeing.
• Check to see if there are any Family Law Act orders in place, including interim or final orders or parenting plans.
• Complete a family violence report and keep this information in our records.
• Investigate any crimes, including those committed against children and young people.
• Share information with other services that help protect children and young people through The Orange Door, including making a referral to Child Protection and family violence support services.
• Decide if a civil protection order is required, such as a family violence safety notice or family violence intervention order.

For more information about police processes, refer to the Code of Practice for the investigation of family violence.

Children and young people who use violence

Violence by children and young people is recognised as a distinct type of family violence.

It can include:

• child-on-parent violence
• child-on-child sibling violence
• problematic sexual behaviours.

To help children and young people stop using violence, police work together with:

• Child Protection
• family violence support services
• the courts, and
• the child or young person’s family.

Support services for children, young people and their families

Find support and advice for children, young people, and families.

For more services, visit Family violence support services and resources.