Review of the Impact of Violence on Young Australians

On 16 June 2009 the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth and Minister for Sport, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth to inquire into and report on the impact of violence on young Australians. The deadline for submissions to the Committee has been extended from 23rd October 2009.

The Committee has also set up an online survey for young people aged between 12 and 24. It asks quite generally about experiences and perceptions of violence, but there is some scope to provide comments that could explicitly address transphobic and homophobic violence.

The National LGBT Health Alliance has contributed a submission to the review. In it we addressed the huge negative impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying and violence on the wellbeing of sexuality, sex and gender diverse young people and those questioning their sexuality or gender and considers strategies to reduce this violence and support the resilience of LGBT young people.

Details of the inquiry are available on the Committee's website.

The Committee's terms of reference note a particular interest in

• perceptions of violence and community safety among young Australians
• links between illicit drug use, alcohol abuse and violence among young Australians
• the relationship between bullying and violence on the wellbeing of young Australians
• social and economic factors that contribute to violence by young Australians
• strategies to reduce violence and its impact among young Australians.

Find out more about violence and homophobia.