PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Healing our children and young people: A framework to address the impacts of domestic and family violence

This resource is for policy makers and practitioners working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have experienced domestic and family violence and have come into contact with child protection systems. 

This framework is designed to be implemented in local contexts, to meet local needs. It has been built from knowledge generated through participatory action research methods led by First Nations community researchers in regional and remote Queensland locations. Importantly, it recognises the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and embeds evidence based healing responses.

Children are placed at the centre of this trauma informed, strengths based a framework that upholds self-determination and will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to  experience increased physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual safety in their homes and communities. A set of principles, drawn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values shapes key actions, ideas and questions that can be embedded within practice. The framework provides critical insights for government, to support policy and systemic change that will enable the framework to be implemented successfully. Links to additional resources are also included.

This resource emerges from the findings and recommendations of New Ways for Our Families: Designing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practice framework and system responses to address the impacts of domestic and family violence on children and young people and You can’t pour from an empty cup: Strengthening our service and systems responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence, the two reports published as part of the Service system responses and culturally designed practice frameworks to address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children exposed to domestic and family violence project led by the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Child Protection Peak and supported by the Australian Catholic University.

Suggested citation

Morgan, G., Butler, C., French, R., Creamer, T., Hillan, L., Ruggiero, E., Parsons, J., Prior, G., Idagi, L., Bruce, R., Twist, A., Gray, T., Hostalek, M., Gibson, J., Mitchell, B., Lea, T., Miller, C., Lemson, F., Bogdanek, S., … Cahill, A. (2023). Healing our children and young people: A framework to address the impacts of domestic and family violence (ANROWS Insights, 01/2023). ANROWS.