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Preventing youth violence

ARACY's "Preventing Youth Violence" project seeks to mobilise action across sectors and disciplines in developing collaborative strategies that are grounded in the best available evidence on “what works” to reduce violent and antisocial behaviour in young people.

As part of the first phase of this project, a new report titled Violent and antisocial behaviours among young adolescents in Australian communities: an analysis of risk and protective factors has been completed.

The ARACY-commissioned report, produced by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, identifies factors that increase or reduce the likelihood of young people engaging in violent and antisocial behaviour. Read more about the study.

Unlike many other strategies that attempt to control violent and antisocial behaviour in the later adolescent years, “Preventing Youth Violence” is directed at young people aged 10-14 when major changes in brain development provide a potent opportunity for effective early intervention.

The project recognises that the experiences and developmental challenges faced by young people as they move into adolescence are critical to their capacity to achieve their personal potential and to engage constructively with society.

Download a project summary
Download an outline of the project rationale


Report highlights need for early intervention

In October 2009, ARACY released its report Violent and antisocial behaviours among young adolescents in Australian communities: an analysis of risk and protective factors. Download the report and related data.

The analysis confirmed that programs to prevent youth violence were more likely to be effective if they started in primary school and were sustained as children moved through their adolescence. A range of risk factors operating at both an individual level and in the child’s social environment significantly increased the likelihood that the child would also have recently consumed alcohol as well as engaging in violent and antisocial behaviour. Children with a high number of protective factors operating in their lives were much less likely to engage in these problem behaviours.

The study findings reinforce the opportunity available to implement strategies that reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors in the early adolescent years.

The analysis is based on survey data of more than 8000 10-14 year old students in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia collected as part of the Healthy Neighbourhoods Project.

Download the media release accompanying the release of the report.


Preventing youth violence discussion paper

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has been contracted to prepare a discussion paper for ARACY to inform national consultations on what can be done at a policy, practice and community level to reduce violent and antisocial behaviours among young people.

The discussion paper will include an examination of the evidence on what works in addressing youth violence and antisocial behaviour and why it works. It's expected to be completed in mid-December 2009, with consultations commencing early in 2010.


Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of violence on young Australians

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth is conducting an inquiry into the impact of violence on young Australians. The inquiry will investigate and report on:

• perceptions of violence and community safety among young Australians
• links between illicit drug use, alcohol abuse and violence among young Australians
• the relationship between bullying and violence on the wellbeing of young Australians
• social and economic factors that contribute to violence by young Australians
• strategies to reduce violence and its impact among young Australians.

Written submission will be received until Friday 23 October. Further information is available on the inquiry website.

For more information on the Preventing Youth Violence project, contact the Project Manager Deirdre Croft.

Documents for viewing/download:
	Project Summary: (100Kb) (two page summary)
	Project Rationale: (59Kb) (two page summary)
	FULL REPORT: (1.9Mb) Violent and antisocial behaviours among young adolescents in Australian communities: an analysis of risk and protective factors
	DATA TABLES: (212Kb) Violent and antisocial behaviours among young adolescents in Australian communities: an analysis of risk and protective factors
	MEDIA RELEASE: (113Kb) Violent and antisocial behaviours among young adolescents in Australian communities: an analysis of risk and protective factors
	Preventing youth disengagement and promoting engagement: (1.2Mb)
	Accessibility: If you have difficulty accessing the information in these publications, please contact us to request an alternative format such as Word or RTF. We will normally respond to your request within two working days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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