Barnardos Australia strongly welcomes the NSW Government's landmark strategy to acknowledge children as victim-survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) in their own right, but more must be done to protect them.
The NSW Government today released its Building Better Responses: NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence 2026–2030, which recognises children are often exposed to DFV which can lead to worse health, social and educational outcomes and difficulties with emotional regulation, aggression and mental health.
Major funding, including $484.3 million for boosting access to safe and crisis accommodation and specialist supports for almost 3,000 women and children leaving domestic and family violence, and a further $48 million for expanding a specialist program to break the cycle of DFV have been hailed as critical investments by Barnardos.
But the child protection organisation has cautioned that the recognition of children being victim-survivors is not enough to ensure they are supported to live safe, stable and well-rounded lives.
Barnardos Australia frontline worker Eliza Gibbs said the state government should go one step further and put it into legislation.
"For the first time this strategy acknowledges the obvious: children are not just witnesses to domestic violence, they are victim survivors. The recognition matters," Eliza Gibbs said.
"Children need more than acknowledgement. Along with their non-offending parent, usually their mother, they need to receive age-appropriate trauma-informed counselling and specialist support so they can recover, build strong relationships and enjoy the childhood they deserve."
"Under the current legislation and policies regarding DFV, children are only seen as an extension of their mother's needs, they are not counted or recognised as victim-survivors in their own right and therefore, remain silent and hidden."
Barnardos works with children every day who are living with the trauma of DFV, and without sustained support, many face disrupted schooling, mental health challenges, social isolation and long-term disadvantage.
"A child should be focusing on learning, friendships, playing and feeling safe, not living in fear," Eliza Gibbs said.
"If we are serious about breaking the cycle of violence, we must invest in children's whole lives, not just in a crisis response when things have reached a breaking point. The state government has taken a step in the right direction but now we need to see more action.
"We need recognition from the federal government and investment in the supports that allow children to grow up safe, confident and supported."
