Webinar: Working with the knowledge of experts by experience

Disclaimer: ANROWS webinars bring together a diverse range of speakers on a particular topic, informed by the evidence base, lived expertise, and policy and practice knowledge. The views expressed by speakers or other third parties in ANROWS webinars and any subsequent materials are those of the speaker or third party and not, necessarily, of ANROWS.

Content warning: This discussion includes references to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. These topics are not explored in detail but may be sensitive for some viewers. Please care for yourself and pause or seek support if you need to.

For links to support services, visit the ANROWS support directory

This webinar is the fourth in a series aimed at supporting the implementation of the ANRA, scheduled to take place throughout 2024–2025.

People with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence have valuable expertise to contribute in all stages of the research process. Including them in research encourages a fairer distribution of power and a more nuanced understanding of domestic, family and sexual violence.

In this webinar, Anna Couts-Trotter (The Survivor Hub) Ashlee Donohue (Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Corporation, Women’s Centre) Nina (Flat Out Inc.), and Lula Dembele (Good Shepherd) discussed:

• their research journeys
• power dynamics and the perpetuation of power imbalances in research practice
• capacity building for people with lived experience of DFSV
• strategies to improve our ways of working

RESOURCES

An Australian Framework for the ethical co-production of research and evaluation with victim survivors of domestic, family, and sexual violence was developed by Lula Dembele, Fiona and Nina, victim survivor co-researchers from the University of Melbourne’s WEAVERs group and Katie Lamb and Kelsey Hegarty from the University of Melbourne’s Safer Families Centre.The Framework provides best practice principles and a set of resources to support researchers and victim survivors wanting to engage in co-produced research about intimate partner and sexual violence. Read the framework.

The Family Violence Experts by Experience framework was co-produced by researchers from the University of Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence to Women and their Children (MAEVe) with victim survivors from the MAEVe WEAVERs (Women and children who have Experienced Abuse and Violence: Advisors and Researchers) Victim Survivor Group. The Framework aims to enhance the ability of specialist family violence services to provide opportunities for survivor advocates to influence policy development, service planning and practice. The framework includes guidelines, principles and resources to support survivor advocates and organisations to engage with each other and work collaboratively. Read the framework.

Mudgin-Gal Yarns is a five-part series where inner-city Aboriginal women speak openly about the systems meant to protect them: police, government, and services. The podcast features candid conversations that explore what works, what fails, and what needs to change and is hosted by Ashlee Donohue. Listen to the podcast or read Ashlee Donohue and Jane Wangmann’s report Aboriginal Women’s Voices: There’s Power in That – Findings from the Mudgin-Gal Yarns.

The Survivor Hub is a survivor-led initiative harnessing our knowledge and lived experiences to support, inform and empower people impacted by sexual assault. They current run in-person MeetUps in person across Australia, as well as online. They also have an online Facebook forum where survivors can connect, vent and ask questions.

Speaker biographies

Anna, Co-Founder and Director, The Survivor Hub

Anna (she/her) is a co-founder and director of The Survivor Hub. Anna is very lucky to currently live on beautiful Wilyakali Country.

Anna experienced domestic and sexual violence as a young person and endured an isolating court process as a result. Anna was inspired to create TSH to empower connection and community between survivors. Anna believes that healing can only happen with connections and support from other people who just get it.  

Anna is a recent graduate of Bachelor of Arts and Social Work from the University of Sydney. Anna is currently working as a social worker.

Anna was recognised for her work with TSH in 2023, being named Westfield Eastgardens Local Hero. She is an ambassador for National Survivors’ Day and has worked with Full Stop Australia, Bumble, NSW Government and others.

Ashlee Donohue, CEO, Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Corporation – Women’s Centre

Ashlee Donohue is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Dunghutti Nation. She is an author, educator and passionate advocate for the empowerment of Aboriginal women, with an influence that extends globally.

She has contributed to numerous anti-violence campaigns and anti-racism education resources, helping drive meaningful change. Currently, Ashlee serves as the CEO of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Corporation – Women’s Centre, where she continues to champion Aboriginal women and families.

“For me, the importance of Aboriginal women in leadership is to continue carrying the legacy, strength and cultural values of the women who came before us. It’s extremely important to me to continue to light the path for Aboriginal women. Whilst we work to clear generational trauma, we cannot forget our generational strength as the oldest living culture in the world, anything less is a disservice to our matriarchs who gave us more than just wounds.”  

Connect with Ashlee on LinkedIn.

Lula Dembele, General Manager Lived Experience and Co-Production, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand

Lula Dembele is a passionate advocate for women and victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse and childhood and adult domestic violence. Combining lived experience and professional expertise, Lula is dedicating her efforts to working on systemic and cultural change to reduce men’s use of violence in intimate, domestic and family settings. Lula has led the call for a greater focus on ending perpetration of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) and been an integral part of undertaking the first study to measure DFSV perpetration in Australia.

In her current role as General Manager Lived Experience and Co-Production at Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Lula is leading enterprise-wide change to ensure the experience and needs of women and children are central to research, advocacy and service delivery.

Nina, Family Violence Justice Project Coordinator, Flat Out

Nina lives in Millowl on the lands of the Bunurong people of the eastern Kulin nations. She works for Flat Out who supports folks to get out and stay out of prison. Nina is the Family Violence Justice Project Co-Ordinator and founder of the FIGJAM collective a peer led support and advocacy group of survivors of state violence.

Nina would like us all to reflect on policies that have been created and how these can block out talent from participation, especially when considering the lived experiences of folks who have been criminalised. All members of our communities should have equal access to participating designing and leading research. ‘Nothing about us without us’ means all of us not just a select few.

Nina is proud mother and gardener, loves being bare foot, bathing in the sun and swimming in our water ways. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.