New report urges action for children and young people experiencing violence – not just listening.

In December 2025, at a roundtable convened by the DFSV Commission and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), a group of children and young people with lived and living experience of DFSV spoke directly to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, and the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney, about their experiences and ideas for the future.  

The clear message of the report is that it is time to move beyond listening, and start taking action based on what children and young people are saying needs to change.  

The young advocates identified six priorities for government action in the roundtable report:  

• Ensuring accessible, age-appropriate and easy-to-navigate support, 

• Strengthening education to empower children and young people, their families, schools and communities to prevent and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence, 

• Providing safe and accessible housing options for children and young people escaping unsafe environments, 

• Ensuring police interact with children and young people safely and respectfully, 

• Empowering children and young people to meaningfully participate in family court and justice system processes, and 

• Transforming systems using solutions co-designed with children and young people, enabling individualised and strengthened prevention, support and recovery options. 

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, said “children and young people are increasingly recognised as experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence – not just as witnesses, and not just as extensions of their parents.  

“Bringing this group together was a key step in creating spaces for children and young people to speak directly to key policy makers. The responsibility now sits with all of us to drive real, lasting change,” said Commissioner Cronin. 

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, CEO of ANROWS, said “children and young people have been clear about what needs to change. The evidence tells us they are victim-survivors in their own right, with distinct experiences, needs and expertise.  

“They want systems that recognise their experiences, respond earlier, and support their safety and recovery in ways that make sense for their lives. The responsibility now is to turn that evidence into policy, practice and services that meet children and young people where they are.” 

Rachael Knowles, inaugural member of the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner’s Lived Experience Advocacy Group, facilitated parts of the roundtable. She said “I am always in awe of the strength, grace and generosity of survivors, and never more so than at roundtables like this. Lived experience is the key to successful change; those with lived experience know the systems, we know its strengths, and its failures. Many of us have fallen through the gaps. 

“Thank you to the DFSV Commission, ANROWS and Minister Plibersek and Assistant Minister Kearney for platforming and hearing children and young people’s voices.” 

This work will contribute to shaping the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, ensuring children and young people are not only recognised, but prioritised.  

“The Second Action Plan must be the moment we stop leaving children and young people at the edge of our responses, and start building the safety, support and recovery we have been asking for,” said Conor Pall, a young advocate from the group and member of the DFSV Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Council. 

“This report is a reminder that many of us have always known where the system falls short. We know what it feels like to ask for help and not be met with the right response. We know what it means to be spoken about in policy, but still not have somewhere safe to go, someone safe to call, or support that was built with our lives in mind,” said Conor. 

Commissioner Micaela Cronin also shared that “the DFSV Commission called for Children and Young People to be at the centre of national efforts in our 2025 Yearly Report to Parliament, and it is very encouraging to see this as a key priority in the consultation currently underway to develop the Second Action Plan.”