The ACT government needs to implement a systematic approach to trauma support and recovery services for children in families experiencing domestic violence as a matter of priority, advocates warn.
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The calls come as the government prepares to take part in an extraordinary meeting on the needs of children affected by family and domestic violence in April.
Convened by the Domestic Violence Prevention Council, the meeting will focus on responses for children witnessing and experiencing violence, interventions to interrupt the intergenerational patterns of violence, considerations of early interventions and the need for programs for those with sexualised behaviours as a result of sexual violence.
ACT commissioner for Children and Young People Jodie Griffiths-Cook said children need to be seen as primary victims of domestic and family violence instead of secondary.
She said research shows traumatic childhood experiences can have serious effects on the developing brain.
"Experiences of family and domestic violence can constitute chronic toxic stress that negatively impacts children's brain development over time, and can affect all domains of their development (physical, psychological, emotional, behavioural, and social)."
Ms Griffiths-Cook said the commission was "actively pursuing" relevant and appropriate supports for children.
According to Women's Legal Centre executive director Elena Rosenman, in the past six months about 85 per cent of the centre's specialised domestic violence program clients had children.
"Many of these women are seeking legal advice in part to protect their children from harm," Ms Rosenman said.
"All of our clients with children express concern about the effect of the violence on their children. The centre does its best to provide wrap-around support to our clients but it is very difficult for us to assist women to access support for their children where those program simply don't exist or aren't resourced to a level that allows them to meet demand and address very complex experiences of trauma. There are also many women who are fearful of seeking support for their kids because they are afraid seeking this support will bring them to the attention of Children and Youth Protection Services."
As part of a recent ACT government study into the design of a Family Safety Hub, the ACT co-ordinator-general for family safety Jo Wood said children were getting lost in the system.
"There is not sufficient focus on the trauma they experience or the impact on them," Ms Wood said.
"The exposure to violence as children has potentially intergenerational consequences."
ACT minister for women Yvette Berry said the report identified community concern that "in some instances" children can be lost in the response to family violence.
"There are range of current child-specific responses within the government and community sectors for children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence, but there is always more work that needs to be done," Ms Berry said.
She said the extraordinary meeting would help identify possibilities to develop and improve the ACT's responses to the needs of children.
