Currently in Australia, children as young as 10 years old can be arrested, held in police cells, taken before a magistrate and incarcerated in prison-like settings. Most children who are incarcerated are never convicted of a crime.
Can men who are abusive to their intimate partners still be good fathers? This is a question the family violence team at RCH are asked almost daily. As a children’s hospital, the RCH is in a unique position to help children experiencing family violence and the best interests of the child are our priority as we work alongside families.
OzChild is a Government funded organisation for the care of vulnerable families. It is a direct descendent of one of the earliest orphanages in Melbourne, the St James’ Dorcas Society shelter for orphaned children. Today it is a national organisation and all their work is done in community and homes, working with families.
OzChild’s vision is that ‘All children and young people are safe, respected, nurtured and reach their full potential’. As part of its strategic plan 2016-2020 it aims to measure the impact and success of its programs using a strong evidence-based methodology and reporting of client outcomes.
One in four children in Australia grow up in homes marred by family violence. Yet despite growing awareness of the problem, children’s experiences are often overlooked. At RCH, the family violence team is helping staff to understand the immense difference they can make when they recognise and listen to children and their families who are living with violence. During this Grand Round, Ruth Clare, author of the memoir Enemy, will share her personal experience of growing up in a home with a violent father and an alcoholic mother, and the impact this has had on her life.
