Prevalence of family breakdown and domestic violence in Australia
Exposure to family breakdown and domestic violence among children and young people have become a very significant policy issue in contemporary world (Harold and Leve 2018). In the past few years, there has been a notable increase in awareness of the consequences of aggression among the adolescent. Very recently, several cases of school shootings, drug abuse, gang violence etc. have come to prominence. The attributions to such an increasing statistics could be placed upon the issue of family breakdown and domestic violence. The awareness of the impacts of parental discipline, domestic violence, breakdown of family structure, poor communication and poor parent-children interaction, too, have risen to a significant extent in countries like Australia. Family is always considered to be having the most impact on the development of any child. This article is going to elaborate on showing the prevalence of family breakdown and domestic violence in Australia and its implications for children and young people living in this adversity in relation to their healthy development and education. With the same, it shall also identify the children and the young people who are considered to be vulnerable to this issue by explaining the risk or vulnerability. Moreover, the impact of this on the young people and the children within the aboriginal community will be briefly examined in this paper. Lastly, it is going to present a reflection on what I, as a secondary school educator, could do to support the children and the young people living in this adversity by considering several approaches.
Prevalence of family breakdown and domestic violence in Australia- As per Fairbairn, Jaffe and Dawson (2017), “Defining forms of violence, its perpetrators and their victims, is complicated by the many different kinds of intimate and family relationships and living arrangements present in Australian communities”. As per the report of 2016, about 15.8% of children and young people in Australian community live with single parent and 81.8% of them are headed by their mothers (Walter 2017). Also, of all the families present in Australia, 44.7% are couple families having children, 37.8% are families without any child and 15.8% are single parent families (Mcleod, Verdon and Kneebone 2014). According to the report “Retirement Outcomes for female primary Carers in Australia: A literature Review.” by Craft et al. (2018), there were 46,604 divorce cases granted in Australia in the year 2016. However, notwithstanding these facts, the main reasons behind divorce and separations in this country include- loss of connection (21%), financial issues (4.7%), drug abuse and alcohol consumptions (7.4%), communication issues (27%), mental and physical health problems (4.7%), trust issues (20%), emotional and physical abuse (7.4%) (Andersson et al. 2018).
Implications for children and young people living in this adversity in relation to their healthy development and their education- Divorce refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is either done by court or any other adroit or competent body. While the term “separation” refers to the instance of parents getting separated. It is to note that parental separation or divorce have a strong impact on the mind of the school-aged children. For most of the young ones, their parental separation is a very stressful phenomenon which influence their overall well-being. It also effects their learning process. As per Nadeem et al. (2017), there are several stress factors that are experienced by the young people and children and some of them include- decline in the parental support, loss of contact and support from one parent, economic or financial decline and parental conflicts. Moreover, the acts of domestic violence are the activities of violence which occur in between people who have or had intimate relationship within the home or domestic settings. Such actions could comprise of psychological, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. According to Van der Kolk (2017), children and young people who witness domestic violence undergoes a serious risk of or are vulnerable to long-term disturbance and problems in their mental and physical health and this adversely influence their learning. With the same, violence in between parents might also result in children being violent in their own future relationships.
Implications for children and young people living in this adversity in relation to their healthy development and their education
It is also to mention that domestic violence, separation and divorces effects the education and learning process to one or the other way. This harms the learning process of the children by inflicting them to lose interest in learning and educating themselves. As per the study conducted by Oral et al. (2015), the children and the young people are negatively affected by the domestic violence and family breakdown. Domestic violence like insults, beating, ignoring, shouting, denying giving food, destruction of property, sexually harassing, humiliation and threats are the major examples of domestic violence. These may result in emotion, physical and even psychological harm and lack of self-esteem and self-confidence among the children. All these contribute to negative effects on the educational process these pupil. With the same, it is also to mention that the pain and the harm that is inflicted upon the children due to violence might influence their physical, emotional and psychological well-being as well and all these conditions gradually result in shifting of the focus of the children from learning to a worrisome state over their own life. Also, researchers have stated that domestic violence on the school going children led to their late arrivals at their schools and increase in cases of absenteeism (Chen et al. 2017).
The children and young people who are vulnerable to domestic violence and family breakdown- The school going students, the Torres Strait Islander children, the aboriginals, the children who belong with linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, the children with disability and the children who are transgender, lesbian, gay or bisexual are the most vulnerable group to domestic violence and family breakdown. The effect of domestic violence and family breakdown on these groups of children and young people is compounded by their experiences of marginalisation and discrimination. With the same, they undergo lower academic achievement, lower self-esteem and lower social competence as compared to other children who live their live normally. Also, they undergo several behavioural, emotional and psychological disturbance and some really unsatisfying and poor parent-children relationship. However, it is also to mention in this context the impacts of this adversity on boys and girls are, to some extent, different. In boys, their external behaviours get changed. They undergo serious adjustment problems, especially in the mother-headed households. Defiance, impulsivity, aggression, delinquency are some of the tremendous impact or changes that they face. While girls experience the pain internally (Briggs 2018). They cry, withdraw from social activities, self-blame and self-criticise. However, to sum up, both the genders are affected mentally and physically. They face depression, anxiety issues, adjustment issues and comparatively less financial and emotional security. Also as per Burkett (1991), “children who learn self-abusive and family abusive behaviours from their parents’ generation will apply it quite early in their own lives”.
Impact of the adversity on children and young people who are aboriginal- Within the aboriginal populations, the prevalence of the children’s and young people’s exposure is more often, reflecting the high rates of the family breakdown and violence which exist more often with these aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. While there are several different theories on the causes of domestic violence and parental separation among the aboriginals or the indigenous communities, it is commonly believed by many researchers that it is the result of several factors. As per Fluke et al. (2010), “The overwhelming evidence supports the position that the various forms of Indigenous violence have multiple originating causes”. As per the report of National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party, the domestic violence is often associated with the consumption of alcohols within the aboriginal communities.
Children and young people who are vulnerable to domestic violence and family breakdown
Browne-Yung et al. (2016), in this context have highlighted some of the significant contributing factors that leads to domestic violence among the aboriginals. As per him poverty, inadequate housing, loss of identity, unemployment, very limited access to the social resources, inequality, imbalance, neglecting the responsibilities of the family, lack of respect within the society and families, abusing, alcohol consumption, emotionally disable or disturbed family members, sexual jealousy and lack of status and suicide are the major elements of such domestic violence and family breakdown. However, such problems affect the physical and psychological condition of the aboriginal children and women, which can even pass from one generation to other. It is also to note that this adversity is one of the major contributing factor to homelessness. Some may even die due to this.
Reflection as a secondary school educator- As a secondary school educator, I can provide such children and young people who experiences or has experienced this adversity of domestic violence and family breakdown with safe, supportive and predictable environment for their mental satisfaction and to ensure that they are properly learning and developing. I shall never set them alone and shall always try to become their friend with whom they can feel free to share anything that is disturbing them. I shall ensure to provide them with proper opportunities to coping up with their condition and talking about their issues with me. I shall be making use of therapeutic play for this purpose. It shall be improving their emotional well-being. It is to mention that using therapeutic play will give them with potential opportunities to express their feelings in natural ways and that too, in safe manner (Mahony et al. 2014). This will enable the beginning of the healing process among these children and young people. In the secondary school setting, children are at their adolescent period. They reach new heights of independence and is also at their beginning of doing several experiments. Also, issues in regard to communication and a sudden physical and emotional changes are very common during this period. Hence, I shall be using the Dialectical behaviour therapy for them. Dialectical behaviour therapy focuses on the psychological aspects of therapy and it emphasise on the vitality of collaborative relationship by supporting the children and helping them develop their skills for coping up with the emotional situations that they undergo. This therapy sessions (on a weekly basis) will help me in building self-esteem among such pupils and also will improve their communication skills. I shall also work towards creating a parental partnership with the parents of these children. I shall ensure that parents are involving in the process of learning and mental development of their children. Also, by doing this, I shall be successful in monitoring the progress as well. However, being an educator, interfering in family matters is against my codes of ethics but children at this stage needs continuous support and care from the parts of both of their parents. I shall be advising their parents with certain things and suggest them ways that will help these children cope with the situations. For instance, I shall advising both the parents to keep the children out of their arguments and conflicts and being positive regarding other parent while talking to the children. Also, I shall advise them to listen to their children with full sympathy without judging them. I shall be ensuring that these children are successful in making strong social networks with their friends and communities and they do not feel lonely and self-blame themselves. I shall be providing them counselling and work in collaboration with their parents. Furthermore, it is to mention that filling of Mandatory Notifications Form is one of the legislative, organisational, administrative and professional requirements (Teng 2016). I consider this to be an important means of reporting on the wellbeing concerns of my students. Hence, to contribute to my notification, I shall be maintaining a journal of these children’s well-being and emotional concerns so that I have proper and accurate information with accurate dates while making notifications.
References:
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