The urgent need to counsel children traumatised by domestic violence was communicated to a local volunteer organisation, the Victims of Crime Association Mackay, by a local family violence expert recently. .

“We don’t know how many children are affected by trauma due to domestic violence, but we do know they require counselling,” said Barbara Wilson of Central Queensland University’s Queensland Centre for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.

“Children’s suffering is evident when they become anxious, depressed, withdrawn from normal behaviour, show aggressive play habits, poor school performance and display behavioural problems,” she explained.

Specialist domestic violence counsellors have achieved positive results in treating children using a range of techniques, such as sand play, clay modelling and puppets according to Wilson.

Victims of Crime administrator Margaret Kussrow said the presentation highlighted the different roles of the Centre: research, evaluation and education.

“This is an area of interest to our volunteers as it is a new service and it deals with issues relating to victims of crime,” she said.

After completing the course the 12 volunteers are able to work in administrative roles at Victims of Crime offices and assist those requiring support in the judicial system.

Ms Wilson offers extensive experience in dealing with domestic violence issues, having worked in areas of domestic violence and community law. Her interests include all areas of domestic and sexual violence plus fear of crime, community attitudes and the criminal justice system.

Specialist counsellors can be accessed by calling the Department of Families Crisis Care phone line on 1800 811 811.