More than 200 experts from across Australia, including Children’s Commissioners, frontline practitioners, researchers and young people, have called for urgent government action to better protect and support children experiencing violence and abuse.
The call comes through a new national consultation report led by Kate Fitz-Gibbon and Matt Tyler and initiated by 54 reasons which delivers Save the Children’s services in Australia.
From Recognition to Action draws on consultations with more than 200 stakeholders nationwide and paints a concerning picture of adult-focused systems under immense strain.
With nearly two in five Australian children experience domestic and family violence, organisations across the country are reporting lengthy waiting lists and significant barriers preventing children from accessing vital supports.
The report identifies 20 specific actions governments could take across the priority areas for reform including; preventing violence before it occurs, earlier intervention, ensuring access to specialist child-focused services, supporting long-term recovery, strengthening national leadership and accountability, and placing children’s rights and voices at the centre of decision-making.
54 reasons Executive Director Vicki Mau said the findings could not be ignored.
“The message coming out of this report is significant because of its consistency – we have the evidence and we know what works, but what Australia is not doing well enough is implementing these findings to better protect children,” she said.
“Despite the growing recognition of children as victim-survivors in their own right, governments are failing to match that recognition with action.
“Children and young people must be heard in decisions that affect their safety, recovery and future. Their voices should not sit at the margins of policy, they should be central to how governments design services, fund responses and measure whether systems are working.”
Consultation co-leads and report authors, Kate Fitz-Gibbon and Matt Tyler, said children and young people have repeatedly asked for what they need and now is the time for action.
“This is an opportunity for federal, state and territory governments to move from recognition to action — preventing violence before it occurs, intervening earlier, building specialist child-centred responses and supporting children’s long-term recovery and healing. Our report shows how that can be done now.” Kate Fitz-Gibbon said.
Matt Tyler agreed, remarking, “Children and young people have told us what they need, and we have decades of research and inquiries with recommendations that remain unactioned. Our report sets out a clear path forward outlining specific actions which could be implemented by governments now. What is needed is the political will to act.”
The report also highlights growing concern that many children are unable to access timely therapeutic support after experiencing violence, despite overwhelming evidence of the long-term impacts of trauma and abuse.
Stakeholders reported wait times of up to six months for specialist therapeutic services, while some organisations described waiting lists of up to 200 children. Others said they had been forced to turn children away altogether due to a lack of capacity.
Ms Mau said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for Australia’s Federal, State and Territory governments.
“When services are reporting months-long waiting lists and are even turning children away, it is a clear sign that we are failing to support children in crisis. Accessing timely help should not be just a target, it is absolutely critical to ensure child safety and wellbeing,” she said.
From Recognition to Action revealed strong consensus among consultation participants for greater investment in specialist child-focused services, stronger prevention efforts and reforms that place children’s needs at the centre of policy and service design.
“With the Second Action Plan under development, governments have a critical opportunity to turn evidence into action and ensure children are no longer an afterthought in responses to family violence,” Ms Mau said.
“Children have told us what they need. Experts have told us what works. The evidence is clear. The time for action is now.”
