Being safe and supported is important for children and young people. Yet although we teach children to not hit others, Australian parents are allowed to physically punish their children, to cause pain, in response to the child’s behaviour. The evidence is this just harms the child.
The Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study (ACMS) 2023, led by New Farm resident and QUT Professor, Ben Mathews, indicates that safety cannot be assumed. The study revealed that 62 per cent of Australians had experienced at least one form of childhood maltreatment. This reality reinforces the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Raising children safely is not solely a parental responsibility; it is a shared responsibility of the whole community.
Child maltreatment takes many forms, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. These experiences often cause deep and lasting trauma, altering brain development, emotional regulation and social functioning. Children who grow up in fear feel insecure and unsafe, carrying these wounds into adulthood. The ongoing crisis of family violence in Queensland — with 25 family violence deaths, including 6 children in the past year— reflects the terror many children witness in their homes. The ACMS confirmed that exposure to domestic violence in childhood is tragically common. The ABC reported that every four days, a young homeless person in Australia dies by suicide, with four out of five having experienced family violence.
Drivers of family violence remain insufficiently addressed. Gambling and alcohol each significantly contribute to family violence. Recommendations to reduce gambling and alcohol harm to protect children and families have been rejected in favour of industry interests.
So, what can we, as a village, do to better protect our children?
We must understand the long-term impact of trauma, including prenatal alcohol exposure, neglect in infancy, abuse during childhood, and sexual abuse in adolescence. These harms often become intergenerational when traumatised children grow into parents who struggle.
Early identification and support are critical. Maternal and child health services, childcare centres, schools and community organisations must be properly resourced to prevent harm and intervene early. Women and children escaping violence must have access to safe, secure and long-term housing with appropriate support.
Finally, we must demand stronger government action, including meaningful regulation of gambling and alcohol, and join New Zealand and more than 65 countries in prohibiting physical punishment of children.
Many traumatised children also live with neurodiversity and behavioural challenges, reflecting not their failure, but ours as a community. Prevention, compassion and collective responsibility are essential if we are to truly raise and protect our children.
If this article has raised concerns for you or someone you know, call 1800 RESPECT for support at any time.
