Brutal bullies and protective peers : How young people help or hinder each other’s safety in residential care

International research has shown that young people in residential care experience challenges and are often exposed to risks that compromise their physical and emotional safety. In particular, the literature has begun to account for the interpersonal difficulties that children and young people have with their peers: concerns about bullying, harassment, peer sexual and physical violence and exploitation. This paper builds on this literature, drawing from a study for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse where 27 children and young people living in residential care discussed their experiences of safety. Although they reported abuse and harm (including exposure to peer violence and bullying and exploitation from outsiders) and how their peers’ experiences affected their sense of safety, our study also uncovered ways that young people supported each other and provided them relationships that were protective. The implications for policy and practice, including the need to strengthen peer relationships and foster positive peer cultures are explored.