‘Just Say Goodbye’ (January 2013 online edition)

‘Just Say Goodbye’Summary of key points in chapterThere is a need for:• comprehensive Australia-wide research on filicide which examines the role ofseparation and the presence and impact of prior family violence• improved national data collection and reporting on filicide• family violence risk assessment frameworks that include assessing children’ssafety when there are risks to the safety of a parent• a requirement that all professionals who come into contact with perpetratorsor victims of family violence, and with separating parents – police, magistrates,family court personnel, family dispute resolution services, mental healthpractitioners, general practitioners, child protection etc – receive training in thedynamics of family violence and in risk assessment, and that they implementrisk assessment processes• continued community education campaigns about family violence, particularlyhighlighting the potential risks to children when there is violence towards aparent• continuing statewide and federal initiatives to reduce family violence.ConclusionThis discussion paper has considered a difficult and complex topic. It demonstratesthat filicides that occur in the context of parental separation are not alwaysinexplicable, although they are frequently depicted as such in the media. Itshows there are factors related to separation and parents’ responses to it that canexplain why some children are killed in this context.The paper also highlights the role of family violence in filicides. The researchand case studies outlined show that violence towards an intimate partner is afactor in many filicides that occur in the context of separation. In some instancesthe filicide is directed towards harming the ex-partner. These cases are primarilyperpetrated by fathers and often appear to be the extreme end of a continuumof intimate partner violence.For every case in which a child is killed there are likely to be many otherchildren who have had their lives threatened or who have been harmed by aparent. We need to continue to develop our understanding of these filicidesso that we can find effective ways to identify children at risk, to intervene andprevent the future harm and deaths of children. It is hoped that this paper willstimulate further discussion and research.91