Domestic & Family Violence

This report summarises the findings from an analysis of assessment data on young people’s experience of family violence (FV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on intake, which compared key demographic factors such as age, gender, cultural identities, sexuality, experience of disability, and parenthood. The overall aim of the report was to determine which, if any, demographic factors were related to experiences of FV and IPV.

This factsheet summarises the FV and IPV data for young people broken down by gender identity.

This factsheet summarises the FV and IPV data for young parents. Over the 7 years, 23% of young people supported by BYS were young parents at intake.

Over, 2,800 young people provided information about their experience of domestic and family violence at intake. This factsheet summarises the FV and IPV data for young people accessing Brisbane Youth Service.

The Federal Government must address Australia’s child and youth homelessness problem. The argument for a National Child and Youth Housing and Homelessness Plan is not new. Many governments have attempted to address homelessness only to leave children and young people as one or two recommendations in an adult-focused strategy. While there have been many child and youth wellbeing strategies nationally (National Mental Health Commission’s National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy’ for the most recent), they have not adequately addressed the issue of homelessness. The Federal Government has been largely silent on this issue.

Couchsurfing, or temporarily staying with friends, extended family, acquaintances, or strangers, is a growing form of homelessness within Australia, and particularly concentrated among youth. System involvement with child welfare and its link to youth homelessness has previously been well-established, but not within the context of couchsurfing.

Young people experiencing homelessness and domestic and family violence have complex needs and encounter extensive barriers when seeking support and assistance. They may not recognise or may normalise abuse, thereby compounding the issue. Unfortunately, non government and government sectors and agencies can be siloed, further complicating responses and hindering service provision.

The commonly used term ‘domestic violence’ defines intimate partner violence by its occurrence within a ‘home’ context, rather than situating it within interpersonal relationships, whereas the term ‘Intimate Partner Violence’ (IPV) is arguably more inclusive of violent experiences that occur outside of the domestic space.