Who we are
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is the country’s independent, trusted voice for reliable and informed evidence on domestic, family and sexual violence.
ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments under Australia’s first National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (2010–2022). As an ongoing partner to the National Plan, ANROWS continues to build, strengthen and translate the evidence base that informs the current National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Our work is underpinned by a commitment to producing high-quality, policy-relevant evidence to inform and influence practice, service delivery, and systems reform. Since our establishment, ANROWS has led, contributed to, or commissioned more than 150 research projects. We undertake targeted research both internally and in collaboration with academic institutions and sector partners.
Every aspect of our work is motivated by the right of women and children to live free from violence and in safe, equitable communities. We engage closely with victim-survivors, communities, service providers, governments and policymakers to ensure our work reflects the diversity of lived experiences and supports collective responses.
We are committed to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and work to recognise and amplify the strength and knowledge that exists in First Nations communities.
ANROWS is a not-for-profit organisation jointly funded by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments. We are also commissioned from time to time by individual jurisdictions, and competitively tender for research and evaluation work.
We are registered as a harm prevention charity and deductible gift recipient, governed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Our CEO
Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine
Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine is CEO of ANROWS, Australia’s national organisation for women’s and children’s safety research. She leads ANROWS’ work to strengthen the evidence available to prevent and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence, and to support its use across government, policy, practice and public understanding.
Tessa’s career has focused on building stronger connections between evidence, services, communities and systems. Before joining ANROWS in 2024, she was the founding CEO of Health Justice Australia, where she established and led the national centre for health justice partnership. She was previously Deputy CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service and the inaugural Fulbright Professional Scholar in Nonprofit Leadership.
Trained as a criminologist, Tessa has worked across health, criminal justice, human rights and social policy in Australia and internationally. Her PhD examined the detention and release of people experiencing mental ill-health within the criminal justice system.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and brings significant governance experience to her leadership. She is Chair of the Australian Pro Bono Centre and an Independent Director of Australian Communities Foundation.
Her public speaking and writing explore the role of partnership, evidence and institutional power in creating social change. Her TEDx talks have examined the connection between legal need and health, and the importance of more equitable approaches to philanthropy and cross-sector collaboration.
Tessa was born and raised, and lives and works, on unceded Gadigal land in Sydney.