The Home in Focus program is a whole of family approach where people using family violence remain living in the family home.  A key aspect of the project is to elevate the child’s voice and emphasise the importance of ensuring children and young people’s perspectives are central to decision-making. 

The program aims to promote safety, connection and wellbeing that in turn supports children to thrive in their families and communities and reach their full potential.  Practitioners use play as one option to create safe spaces for children to express their feelings and experiences. The insights gained from children and young people are used to contribute to fostering awareness for parents about how family violence can impact their children.

This presentation draws on the collective expertise of the Home in Focus team, applying attachment-based principles in program development. The presentation will showcase the types of families the program works with and demonstrate how creative, child-centered approaches—such as play and the Three Houses methodology—enable children to articulate their lived experiences. These techniques empower children and young people to express their ‘hopes, dreams, and worries’, offering critical insights that guide therapeutic interventions.

The main takeaway for the audience is that in elevating children’s voices within all family violence-based interventions, allows for their perspective to contribute to what supports are put into place for the family. Children and young people have valuable insights about their life and what they experience on a day-to-day basis.