Intervening with Children Living with Domestic Violence: Is the System Safe?

This article examines cross-sector relationships that facilitated or impeded effective responses to women and children experiencing domestic violence. It reports on the findings of a study of 54 Australian professionals working in either statutory child protection, family law, or domestic violence and community services. Qualitative data gathered from focus groups with participants is the research base for this article. The study found that overwhelmingly the focus group participants described myriad policies and practices in the public sphere that could compound the impact of men’s violence against women in the private sphere.IMPLICATIONS Comprehensive risk assessments should attend to assessing the risks posed by institutions of the state.The findings are particularly relevant to practitioners and policymakers who wish to work in socially just ways, which begin with rendering visible the coercive tactics of the state.