Witnessing or experiencing family violence can have a lifelong impact on children and, in some cases, even lead to them becoming perpetrators.
Pam Barker, CEO of Brisbane Youth Service, says people who witness or experience domestic and family violence at a young age are also more likely to use violence themselves.
She says this is a complex facet of the domestic violence space that is not well understood.
“They witness it or they’re subjected themselves to the violence, and then what occurs is these young people learn how to solve problems and emotionally regulate through the use of physical violence or emotional violence,” Barker says.