DV advocates call for action as under-18 violence increases

Advocates in Alice Springs are calling for action as violence involving people under 18 years of age appears to be on the rise in the Northern Territory. This comes after a 17-year-old girl was physically assaulted by her 16-year-old partner in a supermarket earlier this week. A men's behaviour leader contends that programs aimed at preventing violence must continuously evolve to address emerging issues.

Local advocates argue that young people are increasingly experiencing domestic, family, and sexual violence at younger ages, and this trend must be addressed. Speaking to the issue, Chay Brown, a specialist domestic, family, and sexual violence researcher, expressed sadness but not surprise at the incident. She noted that domestic violence is a widespread problem across all socio-economic groups, cultures, and beliefs, emphasizing that it is an Australian issue requiring a coordinated national response.

Dr. Brown explained that young individuals are beginning to engage in and experience violence at a younger age. This trend, she suggested, may be due to partnerships forming earlier in life and is partly symptomatic of broader domestic and family violence within society. Women's Safety Services of Central Australia's chief executive, Larissa Ellis, highlighted that data revealed a growing need to address domestic, family, and sexual violence among girls under 18 in the Northern Territory.

However, she stressed that such a crisis does not warrant complacency, pointing out that the territory lacks crisis accommodation specifically for girls in this age group. The Northern Territory experiences domestic and family violence rates three times higher than the national average.

Michael Liddle, an Alyawarre man running men's behaviour programs, pointed to increasing anger among young men and boys as a contributing factor to the rise in violence among younger cohorts. He attributed this to widening economic disparities, the availability of alcohol and substances like ice, jealousy, and lack of education about personal well-being.

He noted that young men and boys were more violent towards partners or friends, which was becoming more visible. Liddle and others continue to adapt their approaches to tackle the evolving nature of domestic, family, and sexual violence, acknowledging that while it's challenging, it's not an insurmountable task.