Ms Lisa Marmion:

The issue of children is an area of particular focus for us. We encourage viewing children as victims in their own right. We are very aware of the work we do with children and how they are triangulated in this experience. It is a triadic experience for them. The Senator mentioned assaults on children.

There is an opportunity for us to widen the lens in terms of the experience of coercive control that children battle with on an ongoing basis. They are often embroiled in coercively controlling behaviours and their space for action is limited. We must move away from that physical incident model and understand the complexity of the experience for children and young people. Obviously, when we understand the depth and breadth of their experience, we are more inclined to be more engaged and to dedicate resources towards the safeguarding of children in this context.