Centre for Research Excellence to promote safer families; an Australian first

Australia’s first and only Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) to promote safer families will lead research into the health effects of intimate partner violence on individuals and families, and how the health sector can respond.

The Safer Families CRE was officially launched on Friday 7th April by Marcia Langton, the Foundation Chair of Indigenous Studies at The University of Melbourne.
The Centre is led by Kelsey Hegarty (Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne) Stephanie Brown (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute) and Cathy Humphreys (Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne) who will work alongside renowned national and international researchers in the field.
The event featured a range of speakers, including:

  • Kelsey Hegarty (Chair of Family Violence Prevention, University of Melbourne/Royal Women's Hospital)
  • Aunty Joy Murphy (Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri People of Melbourne and surrounds), who provided a Welcome to Country
  • Claudia Garcia Moreno (Lead, Violence against women, World Health Organization)
  • Sue Matthews (CEO, Royal Women's Hospital)
  • Heather Nancarrow (CEO, ANROWS)

Professor Hegarty said “Many health practitioners have had minimal training and limited experience in identifying partner violence or how to respond if a patient discloses their experience. We believe this to be the only such Centre in the world that has as its core, early intervention as a catalyst for preventing violence against women and children.”

Professor Marcia Langton AM, Associate Provost, Chair of Indigenous Studies and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, University of Melbourne said the CRE will work closely with Indigenous communities. The work of the CRE is relevant to everyone. The findings will inform policy and direction that will directly impact on Indigenous communities, creating stronger families and safer communities.”

You can find more information on their website: https://www.saferfamilies.org.au/



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