Magistrate Crittenden (pictured left) said the scale of domestic and family violence before the court is substantial.

“In 2024 there were almost 390,000 criminal matters commenced in the Local Court.

Almost half of those related to domestic, family and personal violence,” she told students.

“On a domestic violence list day, I can have up to 100 domestic and family violence matters listed.”

She said determining domestic violence cases and sentencing offenders is now “a big part” of her role on the Ballina circuit, which includes Ballina, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.

The magistrate said the law increasingly deals with a wide range of harmful behaviour, including intimidation, stalking, image-based abuse and the new coercive control offence.

But she warned that the deepest impacts fall on young people.

“Growing up in a home where domestic and family violence occurs has a lifelong impact on children,” she said. “In my experience, children who have grown up with this experience often go on to commit such offences themselves.”

She described the topic as “a very heavy subject for 8am”, but said she was encouraged by the turnout.

“As youth leaders, you are perfectly placed to influence how your generation responds,” she said. “You have the power to create change.”

Police: nearly 33,000 young people are on protection orders

NSW Police strategic policy and project manager for coercive control, Dr Bridget Mottram (pictured right), also addressed the breakfast, telling students that the scale of domestic violence involving young people is alarming.

Between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025, police recorded nearly 33,000 young people listed on apprehended domestic violence orders in NSW.

“These are young people who need to be protected from someone they love,” she said.

Dr Mottram said the long-term impacts of exposure to violence are clear, with research showing those who grow up in violent homes are significantly more likely to become victims or offenders later in life.

She said cultural change among young people — especially calling out disrespectful behaviour among peers — is critical.

“Peers calling out peers is far more effective than teachers doing it,” she said. “We need attitudes and culture to change, and that starts with you.”

Rotary: prevention starts in schools

Ballina on Richmond Rotary, which organised the breakfast with NSW Police, said the event reinforced the importance of early education.

The club has long supported respectful-relationships programs across the Northern Rivers, beginning with Ballina Coast High School and expanding to many of the schools represented at the breakfast.

Rotary representatives told students that while police and the courts face the consequences of violence, young people can help change future statistics by shaping culture now.

Community walk tomorrow

The breakfast leads into Ballina’s annual Domestic and Family Violence Awareness Walk, held tomorrow from 12.30pm.

Main Image: Ballina Coast High School’s School Captains for 2026 attending the event, (L to R) Chloe Jo Dodgson, Rachael Dick, Ernie Guy and Clem de Vos

Participants will gather near the Ballina Visitor Information Centre and walk to the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre for a community event featuring speakers, students and local services.

More about the walk and its history:
https://ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2025/11/ballina-domestic-violence-awareness-walk-2025/