Caution:
This site includes information about child deaths, which some readers may find distressing. If you need support, free and confidential help is available.
We wish to convey our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the infants, children and young people in NSW who have died. It is our foremost responsibility to learn from these deaths and to use that knowledge to make a difference.
Homicide refers to the death of a child or young person caused by injuries deliberately inflicted by another person.
These deaths are classified as assault and include all acts of violence that result in injury or harm leading to death.
Findings collected
2009-2023
Page last updated
5 November 2025
Between 2022 and 2023, 11 children aged 0–17 in NSW died as a result of homicide, each in a separate incident. 10 of the children were male.
6 male children aged 13–17 years were killed by unrelated individuals in the context of peer violence (peer homicide).
5 children, (3 under 5, 1 aged 9 and 1 aged 15), were killed through familial abuse involving a biological parent (3 cases) or a step-parent or partner (2 cases). Each of these cases of familial abuse involved multiple and overlapping risk factors.
Loading chart...
While rates varied year to year, the overall homicide rate remained steady over the 15 years, with differences across gender, age and social disadvantage.
Over the 15 years to 2023, most child homicides occurred within families, particularly among younger children. For young people aged 15–17, deaths were more often linked to peer violence.
On average, homicide deaths in the context of familial abuse (80) occurred 3.5 times more often than peer homicides (22).
Male children had homicide rates 1.6 times higher than females.
Infants consistently had higher homicide rates than older children.
Rates fluctuated but were similar between major cities and regional or remote areas.
Rates were higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Rates were highest in the most disadvantaged areas.
The average proportion over the 15 years for children who died by homicide and had a child protection history was 38%.
Children who have died in circumstances of abuse are reviewable deaths by the NSW Ombudsman.
Between 2020 and 2023, 10 children in NSW died in incidents of peer violence, with most deaths (8) occurring in 2021–2022. There were 3 cases of peer homicide between 2014 and 2019.
Most incidents involved multiple young people, often connected to conflict, alleged gang affiliation or relationship disputes. Almost all victims were male and aged 16–17, and most died from stab wounds.
Offenders ranged from 13 to 36 years, with 1 female offender recorded. 6 deaths occurred in Sydney and 4 in regional areas, 3 during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Common risk factors among victims and offenders included:
In May 2024, the NSW Sentencing Council released its report on firearms, knives and other weapons offences, finding that recent penalty increases may disproportionately affect young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and those experiencing disadvantage.
The report concluded that education, housing, employment pathways and support programs are more effective in reducing youth knife crime than harsher sentencing.
We support the Council’s recommendations to extend penalty notices to young people and expand education on knife laws and safer choices.
The Family Focused Recovery Framework guides NSW Health staff in supporting families where a parent lives with mental illness. It promotes communication, coordination and child safety through a family-centred approach.
Following our earlier recommendations, NSW Health developed an implementation and evaluation plan to ensure the framework is applied consistently and its outcomes are measured statewide.