Australia’s Unseen War: Combating Domestic Violence and Protecting Children

We all have a role to play.

In a world that often seems filled with darkness, there are individuals who shine a beacon of hope and bring about meaningful change. Dr Robert Urquhart, or Dr Rob, as he is fondly referred to by his colleagues, is one such inspirational soul. Dr Robert Urquhart is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Education and Social Work -University of Sydney, and Head of Knowledge, Outcomes and Research at Barnardos Australia. He is skilled in devising research that drives advocacy and advances practice. Creating the best outcomes for children harmed by abuse has been the focus of his life’s work.

Australia is facing an unseen war

Australia is facing an unseen war on two fronts.

The first is against human rights in the form of domestic violence. And the second, is the invisible victims, the children who are suffering in its aftermath. Bearing the scars of a war they never asked for.

My mission is to change this.

I’m fighting for the freedom of those children. The freedom to choose a better life. And break the cycle of abuse.

With your help we can get a foothold in the battle.

Dr Robert Urquhart

Dr Rob was also the lead researcher on Barnardos landmark research study, ‘Truth is, the abuse never stopped’, which reveals the long, dark shadow that Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) casts on children in their later lives with persisting health and psychological impacts. Based on responses from 149 victim-survivors from all over Australia, the report finds there is a lack of support for children impacted by family violence and education is needed at all levels of the community. The report calls for systemic changes that recognise that children and young people experiencing DFV are victim-survivors in their own right, and policy and law reforms are needed to address their specific needs.

Read the report here

Domestic and family violence harms children, often leading to physical harm and lifelong emotional, and psychological damage. Yet the study shows that when they reach out to adults for help, they are ignored, not believed, or the abuse worsens. The abused parent is typically the recipient of service responses for crisis assistance. However, as Dr Rob’s research highlights, few services exist to support children in overcoming their trauma from experiencing family violence.

This evidence demonstrates the need for more specialist children’s DFV workers positions. We need resources to support survivors that have been impacted by DFV. We need an open, public dialogue nationally, to normalise communication around DFV and amplify the voices of children experiencing violence, to be able to respond with the help they need.

As experts on child wellbeing, Barnardos sees the solution as better resourcing for trauma-informed child counselling and therapy, additional domestic and family violence specialist workers and an increase in integrated public housing for children and families fleeing domestic violence. Mandatory national domestic and family violence police training and education programs in early childhood education, primary and secondary schools are also important ways to prevent and treat the harm of family violence.

Barnardos is calling on Federal and NSW governments to increase funding for trauma-informed child counselling and therapy, additional domestic and family violence specialist workers and an increase in integrated public housing for children and families fleeing domestic violence. Mandatory national domestic and family violence police training and education programs in early childhood education, primary and secondary schools have also been ear-marked as a priority.