When young people with disability are identified by the system as using violence in the home

Context
A significant number of children and young people with disability who may be identified by the system as using violence in the home have experienced family violence and abuse both within and outside the home. Resulting trauma can have significant and complex impacts for young people, families and service providers. While power and control are key concepts in the context of family violence, parent’s experiences of violence at home is often reflected in the context of the young person with disability feeling out of control of their physical, emotional and social lives and the use of violence is to “control self” rather than to “control others”. Parents report a long history of engagement with support services and had employed a range of strategies and techniques to manage behaviours that were challenging or concerning, including violence. For the most part, however, they reflected on a significant lack of available, appropriate and timely support. Service systems broadly, but the Family Violence response system specifically, appear to be ill equipped to support the needs of children and young people with disability presenting violence and the needs of families to be safe from harm.

Source: Sutherland, G., Rangi, M., King, T., Llewellyn, G., Karanagh, A., Vaughan, C. (2022). A socio-ecological exploration of adolescent violence in the home and young people with disability: The perceptions of mothers and practitioners. Research Report, 19. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS).

This Forum topic was run in two parts across two days

Part One explored the complexity and experience of young people and families when young people with disability are identified by the system as using violence in the home. Part One was held on 28th May.

Part Two followed a case study to reflect on how can we best support young people with disability in the context of harmful behaviour in the home with the current services and systems responses in the Eastern Region. Part Two as held on 25th June 2025.
Forums also highlighted best practice considerations in the context of trauma informed and disability inclusive practice.

Part One

Setting the scene – understanding the complexity

Across the course of the day we heard from presenters who have expertise and experience to contribute a range of perspectives from research, to policy and practice considerations in the context of young people with disability and adolescent violence in the home.

Presentation One

Setting the Scene: Adolescent Violence in the Home and Young People with Disability
This presentation aims to set the scene for understanding the state of evidence on violence used by young people with disability at home, focusing on the lived experiences of families.

Drawing on qualitative research, it explores the complex, often isolating dynamics of managing violent behaviours in the home.

Families—particularly mothers—are frequently positioned in a paradoxical role: simultaneously acting to protect their children and themselves while managing the risks posed to other family members.

The presentation highlights some of challenges families face balancing care, discipling and safety within disability and caregiving contexts.

It also unpacks themes such as the stigma, silence surrounding help-seeking and the contested nature of intentionality in violent behaviours.

Speaker
Dr Georgina Sutherland (she/her) is an Associate Professor in Disability and Health at the University of Melbourne. She leads a research program focused on gender, disability and violence. Her recent and current areas of focus include projects that explore experiences of family violence for young people including young people with disability.

Presentation Two

Young person violence in the home: Considering practice through a trauma informed neuroaffirmative lens.
In Victoria, young person violence in the home (YPVITH) has traditionally been understood within the framework of intergenerational family violence. The Centre has been supporting practice to shift towards a therapeutic response to young person violence in the home to ensure a move away from blame, stigma and perpetrator language and towards a more trauma-informed approach. This presentation will explore learnings from the Centre’s AVITH Practice Leadership project and considerations around language and response through and trauma-informed and neuroaffirmative lens.

Speaker
Emma Nugent (she/her) is a Project Officer with The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. Emma’s current role is focused on building sector capacity around MARAM and the Information Sharing Schemes for the Child and Family Services sector. She also supports the Adolescents & Young Persons Using Violence in the Home (AVITH) Practice Leadership Project. Through these roles, Emma seeks to help ensure research and data is accessible and that service agencies have the space and capacity to build the evidence base together. Emma holds degrees in political science and social policy. She has a strong interest in the rights of children and young people, and ensuring access to services and supports is equitable for all.

Presentation Three

Trauma informed practice with children and young people in the context of family violence and disability
FVREE is the specialist family violence response and support service in the metropolitan inner and outer east of Melbourne. This presentation will highlight family violence informed practice in the context of case management and therapeutic work with children and young people who are victim survivors of family violence. The presenters will be exploring the nuances of young people’s experiences of family violence whilst also being identified as using violence in tandem, and how FVREE responds to these circumstances.

Speakers
Jordan Sloan (she/her) is the Children and Young People Practice Lead at FVREE. Jordan is an experienced practitioner, leader, and trainer and has over a decade of frontline experience across both community and youth custodial sectors. Jordan is proudly neurodivergent and is passionate about working within an intersectional and strengths-based lens to support children and young people who have been weaponised by violent perpetrators and faced systemic disadvantage. Jordan holds a Bachelor in Human Services, Master in Social Work, and Master in Domestic and Family Violence Practice.

Sara Nothrop (she/her) is an experienced practitioner and leader with eight years in the family violence sector. She has been with FVREE for eight months, where she leads a team delivering therapeutic programs for children and families. Sara’s background includes working with children impacted by family violence, at risk of homelessness, in out-of-home care (OOHC), and Aboriginal-identifying children. She also has extensive experience supporting children with trauma histories and neurodivergent needs. As a leader, Sara is committed to building strong, supportive teams and promoting best practice in service delivery. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy.

Justine Janaz (she/her) is an experienced Family Violence Therapeutic Practitioner for Children and Young People at FVREE. She holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy, specialising in Drama Therapy, and integrates evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches into her work. As a practitioner with lived experience, Justine brings unique insight and depth to her therapeutic relationships. Her practice is continually enriched by the strength, resilience, and growth demonstrated by the children, young people, and protective parents she supports.

Presentation Four

The importance of wrap around support for children and young people who are using adolescent violence in the home (AVITH)
Drawing on a case study, this presentation will explore AVITH including context and drivers, reflect on core principles of practice and interventions including the importance of wrap around supports for young people and families.

Speaker
Larisa Freiverts is Team Leader and Senior Family Therapist of the Meridian Youth & Family Therapy Team, Anglicare Victoria – a specialist AVITH team within Anglicare Victoria. Larisa is an experienced therapist, trainer and groupwork facilitator who has worked in the community sector for 25 years. Larisa holds a master’s degree in clinical Family Therapy, Cert IV in workplace training and assessment and is a clinical member and accredited supervisor with AAFT.

Presentation Five

Intersection of Aboriginality/Disability/Trauma and the use aggressive behaviours by Young People in the home
The intersection of Aboriginality, disability, and trauma in young people is complex and often misunderstood, especially when aggressive Behaviours arise. For many Aboriginal youth with disability, aggression can be a way of expressing unmet needs, emotional pain, or frustration—often stemming from trauma, cultural disconnection, and communication difficulties. These behaviors are not simply acts of defiance, but are shaped by intergenerational trauma, systemic disadvantage, and the challenges of living with an undiagnosed or unsupported disability. Understanding aggression as a response to distress, rather than a deliberate choice, highlights the need for trauma-informed, culturally safe, and disability-aware approaches. Supporting these young people requires a focus on healing through cultural connection, respectful communication, and holistic care that recognizes their strengths and identity.

Speaker
Steven Holzman is a Family Practitioner AVITH at Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS), a culturally safe service dedicated to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families in their healing journey from the impacts of family violence. With a Master’s in Counselling, Steven brings a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach to his work, focusing on supporting young people and families affected by adolescent violence. At BWAHS, he contributes to programs that provide holistic, culturally appropriate support, including education, individual and family support, and creative approaches aimed at nurturing healing for Young Aboriginal people and their families and communities.

Presentation Six

Supported, not stuck: insights from Victoria Legal Aid’s research into young people’s experiences as respondents to IVOs
This presentation with provide insights from Victorian Legal Aid’s (VLA) research into Intervention Orders against children and young people. Through conversations with young people and families that have experienced the IVO process and analysing our own court files and data, we found that intervention order applications are becoming a common response to a broad spectrum of children’s behavioural issues ranging from emotional dysregulation to violence and self-harm. This presentation will present our research findings and recommendations for policy and practice.

Speakers
Katie Bates is a Senior Policy and Project Officer in the Family, Youth Children’s Law directorate at VLA. Prior to joining VLA Katie worked as a team leader on systemic inquiries with the Commission for Children and Young People and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. Katie has also practised as a solicitor at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency based in Darwin.

Hannah Fearnside is a Senior Policy and Projects Officer in the Family, Youth Children’s Law directorate at VLA. Hannah joined VLA in 2016 and has worked in the family law mediation service and as a lawyer, practicing in family law and family violence. Hannah is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Australian National University and is a passionate advocate for gender equality and addressing family violence.

Presentation Seven

Understanding and Responding to Aggressive and Escalating Behaviours in Young People
This session explores the experience of relational trauma in young people through a neuroscience lens and will provide participants with a better understanding of how to engage and build critical cognitive and relational skills in young people using violence.

Speaker
Trent Savill is a founding Director of Complex Care and has been supporting children with complex behavioural needs within the child protection system for over 20 years. In his role as Director, Trent leads and supervises a team of therapists and behaviour support practitioners, and provides training and clinical guidance to the sector around trauma informed care and responding to the needs of young people with complex/high-risk behaviours.

The May Disability Inclusion and Safety Forum has been supported by:
• FVREE
• ECASA
• Inner East Child and Family Services Alliance
• University of Melbourne
• Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
• Anglicare – Meridian Program
• Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service
• Victorian Legal Aid
• Complex Care Qld
• Amaze