Children murdered in domestic violence rise in NSW

1 in 4 domestic violence-related murder victims were children, according to the latest quarterly NSW BOCSAR report.

The latest report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows that 45.9% of murders in NSW in 2024 were domestic violence-related. The NSW Police recorded 85 murder victims in the past year, the highest number in a calendar year since 2014.

Alarmingly, 1 out of 4 DV-related murder victims in 2024 were children, up from 1 out of 10 in 2023, which points to a worsening crisis threatening an increasing number of children and young people in the state. Of the 13 children and young people murdered in 2024, 10 were DV-related.

Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, the state’s peak body for specialist domestic and family violence services, says the report shows the grim reality DVNSW’s almost 200-member base is facing daily.

“These findings are sadly not surprising for us at DVNSW and for those working across the domestic, family and sexual violence sector,” Donovan said. ”Each life lost represents a failure of our systems to protect and support those at risk. It’s completely unacceptable that we’re begging for a baseline funding increase when we are presented with these harrowing figures.”

DVNSW calls on the NSW government for an immediate 50% ($163 million) increase in baseline funding to address the worsening domestic and family violence crisis. This is because, despite these alarming statistics, NSW continues to have one of the lowest per-capita spending on domestic and family violence services in Australia.

Geraldine Grones

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Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.