With more than 40 per cent of our country's young people under the age of 16 being exposed to family and domestic violence[1], Safe Steps will today launch Unanswered Calls – a short documentary that highlights the plight of this group of vulnerable Australians.
In Unanswered Calls, two young people bravely share their lived experience of family and domestic violence. Their stories are accompanied by insights and commentary from leading industry experts and community safety champions, including:
- Women's Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin
- National Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds
- NSW Minister for prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, The Hon. Jodie Harrison
- NSW Minister for Families and Communities, The Hon. Kate Washington.
Unanswered Calls will have its Sydney premiere on Monday 17 March 2025 (5:30pm to 8pm) at State Library of New South Wales. There will be a number of screenings available to the public to ensure the message is circulated far and wide. It will also be shown in Brisbane and Adelaide next month, with Perth to follow.
Dr Tobin said that this is not just a film – it's a wake-up call needing to be urgently answered.
"It's more than 10 years since the murder of Luke Batty shocked the nation. This documentary highlights how we have built response systems for adults experiencing family violence, but not children," Dr Tobin said.
"Our system still largely views children as extensions of their protective parent in family violence situations, and young Australians are telling us it's unclear where to find support that's relevant to them.
"Young people are in critical stages of cognitive, emotional and social development, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of trauma. If not addressed, this can become intergenerational trauma.
"We need to actively support them so they can have a life free from violence and know that fear is not love.
"We need dedicated national services for youth, to ensure they have somewhere to turn to escape family violence. We need to ensure their voices are heard."
Interested parties can register to attend a free premiere screening here.
Safe Steps is calling for a dedicated, national response that works with young people to co-design a future where they have the supports they need, at the time and in the places they need it – particularly on the digital platforms they use.
In the documentary, one young person explains: "I also needed someone to sit me down and tell me I wasn't the problem, because throughout my whole experience, that's all I've ever felt, that I was the problem."
The film trailer, grabs and clips from Unanswered Calls
