Domestic violence prevention advocate Conor Pall 'won't stop fighting' for children amid national crisis

Conor Pall is eloquent, whip-smart and unquestionably passionate.

This month, the 20-year-old from Mildura in Victoria's Mallee met Premier Jacinta Allan to discuss his lived experience of domestic violence, a scourge blighting the country.

But behind Mr Pall's confidence is a vulnerability.

From a young age, domestic violence plagued his life.

"Home wasn't a safe place for me," he said.

"For years I lived between two houses.

Mr Pall said he never felt heard when he attended court with his mother when she was applying for family violence intervention orders.

"The magistrate looked at me and asked, 'How old are you?'

"Seventeen, I replied.

"He then informed me that kids did not need to be present at these kinds of proceedings and asked that I be removed from the courtroom.

"I was never really seen, or spoken to by the magistrate, as a victim in my own right."

Earlier this year, the Victorian Victims of Crime Commission released a report called Silenced and Sidelined, which found that the justice system was not always safe and accessible for younger victims.

"For children and young people, not being able to access the justice system safely, and not being aware of options, were barriers to participation," the report said.

"A key theme in relation to barriers for children and young people was children's sense of 'invisibility', lack of agency and lack of opportunity for meaningful participation."

A 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) found young people aged 16 to 24 reported high rates of emotional abuse and exposure to domestic violence.

Mr Pall doesn't want other children and young people to feel like their voices are not being listened to.

At 17, he joined Victoria's Youth Parliament and began campaigning for political change, which included debating mock legislation around domestic abuse.

Now 20, he has written a book for children about the power of overcoming adversity, is an advisor to the Victorian government on domestic violence, and works for the Commission for Children and Young People — a non-governmental body that promotes the improvement of policies and practices that affect the safety and wellbeing of young Victorians.

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