This National Child Protection Week, we’re urging the community to understand the seriousness of family violence and the impact it has on children. Family violence takes many forms and is not just about physical violence. It includes coercive and controlling behaviour including threats, intimidation, isolation, financial control and psychological and sexual abuse. Perpetrators may not subject a child to these behaviours directly, but this does not lessen the impact of living in that abusive environment. Exposure to family violence can have significant long-term impacts on children and youth including poor mental well-being and academic outcomes and behavioural problems. Victoria Police has progressively specialised its response to family violence, recently establishing 31 Family Violence Investigation Units to ensure victim safety and hold perpetrators to account. Not only do we provide safety for victims who make a report, we also refer them to support services, so they get th...