As Charlotte* glides around a women's refuge in her rainbow, gold and pink rollerskates, she is filled with joy.
The young girl's mind does not have to turn to her family's long journey across country NSW to a women's refuge escaping family violence, or the difficulties transitioning to a new life.
She might not know it but the care the eight-year-old and her friends receive is helping break the cycle of abuse.
A scheme placing specialised children support workers in women's refuges has been expanded to 32 centres, covering more rural and remote areas.
Up to 1800 children and young people in NSW such as Charlotte will be supported each year for the next two years.
Activities such as skating, making pizza and dancing help children build focus, organisational skills, cultural ties and self-esteem.
It delivers the adult attention the kids crave while their mother - often in an understandable state of blur - can't fully provide right then.
"We can do rollerskating all the time," Charlotte tells AAP while in her colourful skates.
"The playroom is joyful and helps the kids have fun.
"I love everything about here."
Support extends to sorting new clothes and school uniforms and ensuring the kids get health check-ups, reducing the load on mothers.
Specialist children worker Judy Brennan says some kids walk in the door bouncing off the walls and parents worry about potential ADHD or autism symptoms.
"Sometimes it's just a direct result about the chaotic environment they've come from," she tells AAP.
"They are in flight or fight mode and you can't blame them for that.
"It takes a while to calm them down."
Children exposed to violence experience long-lasting effects on their development, health and well-being, the 10-year national strategy to end family violence notes.
Supporting children as victim-survivors in their own right and addressing the impacts of developmental trauma will help break future cycles of violence, it says.
A recent independent evaluation of the 22 services in operation found it filled a critical service gap and achieved positive outcomes.
Improvements were observed in children's health, education, social and emotional needs and cultural needs while mothers reported improved mental health and stronger relationships with their child.
The program offered a long-term sustainable solution to ending domestic and family violence in Australia, Domestic Violence Service Management chief executive Stephanie Smith said.
"By intervening early with children and young people we are able to disrupt the normalisation of domestic and family violence and allow a reframe of values about relationships and gender dynamics early," Ms Smith said.
The NSW expansion, announced on Friday, ensures $48.1 million in funding until mid-2026 and growth to include 10 new services covering dozens of rural and regional areas.
All up, about two in every three local government areas will be covered.
The changes recognised children and young people are victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in their own right, Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said.
“Supporting families through this holistic response is a critical step to preventing future cycles of violence," she said.
And it's not just the kids and mothers benefiting from Ms Brennan's toil.
She feels somewhat a nanna to more than 20 children.
"They bring me such joy - absolute joy."
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS NOW COVERED:
New Sydney locations: Camden, Campbelltown
New regional locations: Bega Valley, Blayney, Bourke, Cabonne, Cobar, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Dubbo, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gunnedah, Hilltops, Junee, Lachlan, Lockhart, Narrabri, Narromine, Orange, Parkes, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Wagga Wagga, Weddin, Wollondilly
*Charlotte is a pseudonym to protect her identity
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
