Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a major health and welfare concern in Australia.
It impacts communities of people from all socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds, predominantly women and children.
According to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, 39.6 per cent of Australians have experienced exposure to DFV as a child.
Domestic and Family Violence impacts more than 80 per cent of the people Act for Kids helps.
It can lead to severe negative impacts for individuals, families, and communities, ranging from lethal outcomes to physical harm, psychological trauma, and emotional distress.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is an annual event held each May led by the community and various sectors to promote awareness and understanding of DFV.
Act for Kids is supporting this initiative by shining a spotlight on the important work of our Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Practitioners who deliver vital services for children, young people and families.
You can keep an eye out for this on our social media channels throughout May.
Resources for those in need of support:
The Tree of Healing
On April 30 we launched ‘The Tree of Healing’ art activation, a special community initiative by Act for Kids in recognition of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
The art piece on display at the Caboolture Hub throughout May features a painted jacaranda tree, chosen for its vibrant purple flowers – symbolising the international awareness colour for DFV.
The roots of the tree are to honour the many lives lost to DFV, serving as a poignant tribute while the trunk represents growth as a country and the need to protect future generations. The leaves and flowers symbolise healing and our shared commitment as a community to personal healing journeys.
Community members are invited to participate by adding their own purple flowers to the artwork, creating a powerful visual statement of support and awareness.
We encourage community members to capture and share images of The Tree of Healing on social media, tagging Act for Kids, to help spread awareness this DFV Prevention Month.
Act for Kids offers a specialised Safe Families program at the Moreton Centre in Morayfield.
Safe Families takes a multigenerational approach to address the complex issues of DFV.
It works with the whole family, including adult perpetrators of DFV and adolescent/ youth/child-to-parent violence. This program is having a positive impact on the lives of children and families who have experienced DFV.
For more information about this program, visit here or email: safefamilies@actforkids.com.au
If you’d like to support Act for Kids and families impacted by DFV please donate here.
