Sexual and Family Violence: SAFE

Research Overview

Sexual and Family ViolencE (SAFE)

Our multidisciplinary program aims to improve the safety, health and wellbeing of women, families and communities by addressing problems of family violence and sexual abuse through early intervention. Using mixed methods, our focus has been on understanding the dynamics of violence; the links between violence and health; development and testing of interventions for screening, early identification and responses for women, children, young people and men, including the use of technologies. The program is affiliated with the Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence Against Women and their Children (MAEVe) and the Centre for Family Violence Prevention at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

The Program’s objectives are to:

  • Explore the definition, prevalence, risk factors and natural history of abuse and violence across the lifecycle;
  • Understand the physical and psychological consequences of abuse and violence for families;
  • Explore experiences of abuse and violence among the health workforce;
  • Develop and evaluate:
    • Educational interventions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
    • Screening, early intervention and therapeutic responses to assist families where abuse and violence is occurring;
    • Innovative responses using new technologies for women and men to access;
  • Work collaboratively with community groups, survivors, local, state and national governments and professional bodies; and
  • Promote knowledge exchange and provide research evidence to inform policy and practice.

For further details about this program and for a complete list of research projects:

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Staff

Professor Kelsey Hegarty - Program Co-Lead

A/Professor Laura Tarzia - Program Co-Lead

Dr Katie Lamb - Research Fellow - Experts by Experience

Ms Simone Gleeson - Safer Families Centre Manager

Ms Kitty Novy - Education Coordinator

Ms Rachel Komen - Education Support Project Officer

Peter Kelly - Research Fellow

Dr Elanor Bulford - Lecturer

Dr Liz McLindon - Research Officer

Dr Libby Dai - GP, Research Fellow

Dr Fiona Giles - Research Fellow

Dr Minerva Kyei-Onanijiri - Research Fellow

Ms Tracy Murphy - Postgraduate Nursing Coursework

Dr Jenny Neil - Postgraduate Nursing  Coursework Coordinator, Research Fellow

Ms Cynthia Brown - Research Support Officer

Brad Anderson - Communications, Aboriginal Research Support Officer

Ms Kate Fowler - Communications Coordinator

Lilly Fetter - WEAVERs (Lived-Experience) Coordinator

Students

Ms Molly Wellington - PhD Candidate
Ms Jossy Jimenez -  PhD Candidate

Collaborators

Research Publications

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