Whittlesea CALD Communities Family Violence Research Report 2012 | Page 66

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4. Preventing Family Violence: Programs Targeting Young People
There is considerable support in the literature for targeting prevention and intervention strategies at
children and young people as a distinct population group. The literature suggests that young people
are already exposed to, and influenced by violence, that young people may be subject to or
perpetrate violence within their own intimate partner/dating relationships and that they hold
attitudes and norms supportive of violence. In the City of Whittlesea police data indicates that in
45% of family violence incidents at least one child was present. The negative effect of childhood
exposure to family violence is well documented in the literature. City of Whittlesea data also
indicates that a significant proportion of migrants who settled in this area in the last 6 years were
aged under 25 at the time of arrival with the proportion even higher for Humanitarian entrants.
Research indicates that prevention programs for young people are effective in countering violence
supportive attitudes and norms, in building awareness of respectful and equitable relationships and
developing an understating of family violence. Such programs also have an impact on future
attitudes and behaviours and impact on the development of healthy intimate relationships. There is
a strong evidence base for delivery of such programs in school settings and there are a number of
good practice principles that can be drawn on to guide the implementation of a program in
Whittlesea.
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The project will identify and engage with a school located within the Whittlesea LGA with a high
level of cultural diversity to determine the feasibility of piloting a whole of school approach for
the prevention of violence and the promotion of respectful relationships;
A lead agency will be identified to oversee the development of a targeted training program that
incorporates best practice principles;
In partnership with the chosen school, the lead agency will have responsibility for the
implementation and evaluation of the program. The evaluation component will inform the
expansion of the program into other schools within the Whittl