Adolecents

Working with adolescents to prevent domestic violence

This report prepared was by the Crime Research Centre (David Indermaur, Lynn Atkinson and Harry Blagg) for the National Campaign on Violence and Crime (NCAVAC) and released on the 30th July 1998.

The report details the investigation of how it may be possible to work with adolescents to prevent present and future relationship violence.

Although violence in adolescent relationships is not as widely discussed as adult relationship violence those interested in the long term prevention of violence see this link as vital. Adult relationship violence usually represents the repeating of a pattern of violence formed in the family of origin and reinforced in adolescent relationships. The report considers a practical model of how the community can work together to help prevent domestic violence.

The community model was developed with the assistance of many professionals working in Northam a rural town about 110 kilometres east of Perth, Western Australia. The proposed model will be implemented through 1998 and 1999 and its effectiveness evaluated. In the near future a second report focusing on working with adolescents to prevent domestic violence in indigenous communities will be released.

Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting NCAVAC on 02 6250 6666 (Fax 02 6273 0913)