With family violence on the rise, one local organisation is taking action to nip it in the bud with a trial intervention program targeting teenage boys.
The Bridge Youth Service is one of 12 specialist organisations across Australia chosen to deliver an early intervention program to support adolescent boys at risk of using family violence.
The Federal Government will invest more than $23 million over the next three years into the trial program in metropolitan, regional and remote parts of Australia.
The Bridge Youth Service chief executive Melinda Lawley said the “supporting adolescent boys” trial would have a profound impact on young lives.
“As an organisation dedicated to supporting young people in crisis, we see this as an unparalleled opportunity to intervene early and aid victims in their recovery from violence,” Ms Lawley said.
“By addressing trauma before it manifests in harmful behaviours, we can help these young boys build healthier relationships in adulthood.
“This initiative not only reflects our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of young people but also aims to create a future where cycles of violence are disrupted.”
Ms Lawley said family violence had significant negative impacts on the health, well-being and development of children and young people.
“A snapshot survey we did on all young people in our service in a two-week block revealed 70 per cent were impacted by family violence — and this was across our homelessness services, school disengagement, young parenting programs and our mental health, and drug and alcohol response services,” Ms Lawley said.
An estimated 2.7 million Australians aged 18 and over have experienced physical or sexual abuse by an adult before the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“Supporting children and young people as victim-survivors in their own right and addressing the impacts of developmental trauma to help healing and recovery will help break future cycles of violence,” Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.
“There are currently only limited and inconsistent services available across Australia that specifically support children and young people who have experienced violence and are themselves using or at risk of using violence, and this trial will help address this gap.”
The Bridge Youth Service will create its early intervention program for males aged 12 to 18 who have had adverse childhood experiences.
Factors will include experience with family and domestic violence and who are using or at risk of using family, domestic or sexual violence.
Supports will include one-on-one counselling, case management and youth mentoring.
Personalised safety plans and assessments will be carried out.
Each is aimed to be culturally safe and trauma-informed, and support will be tailored to the individual needs and circumstances of participants.
In collaboration with the Australian Childhood Foundation and FamilyCare, The Bridge Youth Service will expand its staff to deliver the program.
“We are pleased that this opportunity has resulted in establishing a partnership with the Australian Childhood Foundation, an organisation with expertise in this field and one we haven’t collaborated with in the past,” Ms Lawley said.
The program is expected to launch early next year.
∎ If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, phone 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.