Understanding coercive control and its impact on children

Coercive control can be one of the most harmful, and sometimes least visible, forms of family and domestic violence. Often unfolding as a pattern of intimidation, isolation and control over time, it can profoundly affect children’s safety, wellbeing and development, even when they are not the target.

For early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals, this presents a unique challenge. The signs may not be obvious, but the impacts can surface in children’s behaviour, relationships and sense of stability.

As some of the most trusted adults outside the home, early education professionals are in a critical position to notice when something may not be right.

Unlike a single visible incident, coercive control involves ongoing behaviours used to dominate, isolate, frighten or control another person. It can involve intimidation, emotional abuse, monitoring, financial control, humiliation, threats, and the steady erosion of someone’s independence.

It is often subtle and may be hidden inside everyday routines, communication patterns, or family dynamics that feel uncomfortable, but are difficult to name.

Responding to coercive control in practice

For early childhood professionals, learning about coercive control builds on existing child protection knowledge.

It supports a deeper understanding of the less visible patterns of harm that may affect a child’s daily life, emotional safety, relationships and sense of stability. It also helps educators reflect more closely on what they may be noticing in family interactions, a parent’s presentation, or a child’s behaviour over time, without asking them to step beyond their professional role.

This is not about turning educators into investigators. It is about strengthening confidence to recognise when something may not be right, to respond in safe and appropriate ways, and to work within service procedures and referral pathways with greater clarity. It also reinforces that children can be profoundly affected by coercive control, even when they are not the target of the abuse.

This is one of the most important messages in this work.

Children living in environments shaped by fear and control may experience stress, uncertainty, disrupted attachment, emotional dysregulation, or changes in behaviour and engagement.

Early childhood professionals are often among the first trusted adults outside the home to notice these shifts. Their role is not to diagnose what is happening, but their observations, relationships and responses can matter enormously.

Be part of the next step in keeping children safe

CELA, in partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), has just launched Recognising and Responding to Coercive Control, a new professional learning initiative designed specifically for the early childhood sector.

The training builds on what the sector already does well. Educators, teachers, leaders and support staff have undertaken extensive learning in child protection, mandatory reporting, child safe practice, and recognising signs of family and domestic violence. Many services have also engaged with recent child safety reform work, strengthening safer cultures, reporting confidence, and child-centred practice.

That matters, and it deserves to be acknowledged. However, this next step goes further. 

This initiative reflects strong leadership from the DCJ in supporting ECEC professionals to recognise patterns of harm that can be deeply damaging, but not always immediately visible. It also speaks to the commitment of the early childhood sector, which continues to lean into complex learning with professionalism, care, and a genuine desire to better support children and families.

ENROL IN THE SELF-PACED COURSE FOR FREE

Why this training, and why now?

Developed specifically for community front-line early education and care professionals, ‘Recognising and Responding to Coercive Control’ offers a powerful learning experience grounded in the realities of early childhood practice. It is practical, compassionate, and designed to help professionals recognise the signs, understand the impact on children and families, and reflect on what safe, child-centred responses can look like in real settings.

At a time of growing community awareness and important legal reform in New South Wales, this training offers an important and timely next step for a sector that is already deeply invested in children’s safety and wellbeing.

If your team has already built strong foundations in child protection and child safe practice, this module extends that knowledge into an area where harm can be harder to see, but no less serious.

To learn more, enrol in our new FREE self-paced course. 

References

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. (2025). NQF child safe culture guide.

Australian Government Department of Education. (2022). Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia (version 2.0).

NSW Department of Communities and Justice. (2024). Coercive control: Know the signs of abuse.

NSW Government. (2026). Coercive control.

NSW Government. (2026). Coercive control and the law.

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