Children's Issues




The Women’s Refuge Group recognises and actively promotes children as primary
victims of domestic and family violence, and as clients in their own right.
Children are a key priority for the Women’s Refuge Group of WA Inc.

One of the goals of the Women’s Refuge Group is to improve the access of women
and children to Women’s Refuges and other services which seek to deal with the
effects of domestic and family violence.

1. Promote access and equity and participation of women and children, with particular
    reference to indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse, lesbian, disabled (physical,
    psychiatric, intellectual and developmental), and substance using women, children and
    young people.

2. Recognise and actively promote children as primary victims of domestic and family violence
    and as clients in their own right

3. Promote a diverse range of service delivery models.

Source: Women’s Refuge Group Strategic Plan 2000-2003
 

 “Effects of DV on Children”

In the past there was a tendency to regard children and young people’s needs as secondary to
those of women experiencing domestic violence, today there is significantly greater
understanding of the impact of domestic violence on children and young people.

Over recent years, there has been increasing evidence that demonstrates the breadth of
domestic violence and the impact that it has on children and young people. Children who
witness violence show a marked tendency towards aggressive behaviours and experience
high levels of anxiety and low levels of self esteem.

There is also significant evidence that domestic violence is perpetrated by young people who
have themselves experienced violence and/or who were in families where domestic violence
was the norm.

Domestic violence is usually seen as occurring between adult men and women, yet the presence of,
and impact upon, children and young people during incidents of domestic violence has begun to be
recognised. Over the past ten years there has been increasing research which documents the effects
on children living in domestic violence situations. Children and young people are often present in the
house as witnesses, trying to intervene, attempting to seek help, and/or becoming targets of the
violence.

There is now increasing concern about the impact of domestic violence on children and young
people, both in terms of the fear and conflict which they experience, the modelling of negative
human interactions and the impact on their social and educational development. The beliefs and
attitudes developed by children growing up in violent environments can lead to the belief that
violence is acceptable as a means of control.

This research identified two types of reactions among children in violent family contexts:
externalising behaviours such as aggression and delinquency, and internalising behaviours
such as withdrawal and anxiety. Children who witness violence at home display emotional
and behavioural disturbances as diverse as withdrawal, low self-esteem, nightmares, and
self blame, and aggression against peers, family members and property.

There is further research which indicates that a large percentage of adolescents who run away
from home are attempting to escape family conflict and violence in the home. The link between
domestic violence and child abuse is beginning to be documented, and it would appear that the
greater the amount of spousal violence, the greater the probability of physical child abuse by the
physically aggressive spouse.

Domestic violence can have the following effects on children and adolescents:
 

  •  Fear and trauma akin to post traumatic stress disorder;
  • Introversion/withdrawal
  • Insecurity/coping responses due to living with unpredictability
  • Behavioural/developmental problems such as  adjustment difficulties, health problems, cognitive deficits and adolescent aggression;
  • Fear/inability to trust
  • Guilt/self blame
  • Difficulty in forming adult intimate relationships;
  • Increased homelessness amongst adolescents; and Difficulties in school.


    • Source: Domestic Violence Community Education Kit
     


    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    Referral to Domestic Violence Children’s Counselling Service:

    The Domestic Violence Children’s Counselling Service is a free service to women and children
    in SAAP Services and provides:
     

  •  Information
  • Assessment
  • Group Programmes
  • Counselling
  • Support to Mothers
  • Support to children


    • Parents can telephone DVCCS for information about how services may be able to assist you.
    DVCCS also provides information about domestic violence, the effects of DV on children,
    referral options or just to talk about parenting issues in relation to experiencing and/or
    witnessing domestic violence.

    Address: PO Box 550
                   Leederville
                   Western Australia, 6903

    Telephone: 9328 1888
    Fax:             9388 8308
     

    Opening Hours: Monday – Friday
                               9:00am – 4:30pm
     
     

    ___________________________________________________________________________________
     

    WESNET Article for program – Women of the Year Luncheon 2002

    WESNET – The Women’s Services Network
     

    Domestic and family violence affects one in three families and statistics show that between
    93% and 97% of perpetrators are men against women and children. It is the crisis that
    causes most women and children in Australia to become homeless, or to live in unsafe
    circumstances where their entire health and well being are in jeopardy.

    Commonwealth data shows that the most common reason give by women and children seeking
    emergency shelter is domestic and family violence. This differs from men’s experiences where
    the main reason cited for homelessness is financial difficulties.

    Up to 80% of domestic and family violence incidents go unreported even though those 20% of
    incidents that are reported account for up to 40% of all police work. Between one and two
    domestic murders occur each week across Australia and these are just the ones identified as such.
    Many more occur which are not identified as domestic murders. Often, children as well as women
    are the victims.

    Indigenous women in rural and remote areas are 45 more likely to experience domestic or family
    violence than non- Indigenous women, and are 28 times more likely to be murdered. In examining
    casual factors for this, it is considered that the higher level of violence in Indigenous communities
    is a result of colonisation and oppression.

    WESNET – The Women’s Services Network is a national network of women’s refuges, domestic
    violence crisis services, court assistance schemes and other services working with women and
    children escaping or experiencing domestic and/or family violence. With approximately 350 of
    these services providing accommodation, at an average capacity of up to 20 beds, it is estimated
    that nationally, women’s services collectively provide up to 7, 000 beds per night as well as
    counselling and referral services, every night of the week, every week of the year to women and
    children escaping domestic and family violence. Thus number of children in these services is
    approximately double the number of women.

    WESNET is a national non-government, not for profit peak women’s organisation working against
    domestic and family violence across Australia. WESNET relies on membership fees and donations
    to carry on its valuable work. This includes national advocacy and provision of policy advice to the Commonwealth government, information dissemination and research. WESNET’s national
    committee members are all volunteers whose paid work is involved in the coordination, delivery
    and development of services.

    One of WESNET’s research projects, undertaken in collaboration with the University of
    South Australia recommends that ways of keeping women and children safely in their homes be
    explored. Too often the community response is that she should leave rather than one where the
    perpetrator should leave and be held accountable for his actions. It is with your support that we
    can continue to raise these issues and work towards our vision of ensuring that all women and
    children can live free of domestic and family violence and its consequences.
     
     

    REFERENCE LIST:

    Women’s Safety Survey, 1996, Australian Bureau of Statistics
    National Data Collection Agency Annual Reports, Australian Institutes of Health and Welfare,
    1996 through to 2000/2002 Christine Nixon, Victorian Police Commission, Melbourne Sun Herald,
    5.6.02 Domestic Violence in regional Australia, written by WESNET for Department of Transport
    and Regional Services, 2000. Based on estimates from WESNET databases “Home Safe Home” –
    The link between domestic and family violence and women’s homelessness, November 2000.
     


     
     

    The Women’s Refuge Group often seeks small grants to carry out work with children in refuges and any support in this area would be greatly appreciated.