Report Outlines Six Key Government Priorities
A new report urges immediate action to support children and young people experiencing violence, emphasising the necessity to move beyond merely listening to their voices. Released on 9th June 2026, the report underscores the pressing need for government intervention.
During a roundtable in December 2025, children and young people shared their experiences with Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek and Assistant Minister Ged Kearney. These discussions led to the identification of six priorities for government action.
The report calls for providing accessible, age-appropriate support, strengthening education to prevent violence, and offering safe housing options. It highlights the need for safe police interactions, meaningful participation in justice processes, and co-designed solutions for prevention and recovery.
Voices of Young Advocates
Micaela Cronin, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, stated, “Children and young people are increasingly recognised as experiencing violence firsthand.” She emphasised the importance of acting on insights shared by young advocates.
Dr. Tessa Boyd-Caine, CEO of ANROWS, highlighted that “children and young people have been clear about what needs to change.” She stressed the need for systems that recognise their unique experiences and support their recovery.
Rachael Knowles, from the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner’s Lived Experience Advocacy Group, facilitated the roundtable discussions. She praised the courage of participants and acknowledged the gaps in current systems that require addressing.
Insights from this report will inform the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, with a focus on prioritising children and young people in policy responses.
Young advocate Conor Pall underscored the need for tangible changes, stating, “The Second Action Plan must ensure children and young people are central to our responses.”
Minister Plibersek committed to integrating these priorities into future policies, stressing that real change requires listening to those directly affected and implementing the solutions they propose.
