Prevalence of adolescent violence in the home and service system capacity in rural Victoria

Adolescent violence in the home (AVITH) is increasing. In Victoria alone, police call-out data indicates a consistent 9% rise per annum from 2006. Community services are struggling to provide a cohesive response to this issue. This study examined the prevalence, risk factors and service system capacity regarding AVITH in Mitchell Shire, a geographical location in central Victoria. The results of the study revealed that specific funding was perceived by organisations to be the single highest need in regards to this phenomenon. Recommendations for the service system in Mitchell Shire included a collaborative approach to establish assessment guidelines, referral pathways and protocols for responding to the disclosure of AVITH. To effectively support workers in Mitchell Shire, a quality service system response would involve the development of common standards of practices across these processes. The methodology used with the AVITH Service System Capacity Assessment Survey, specifically developed for this study, may provide a useful tool for other locations investigating service gaps and needs in relation to adolescent family violence.