NOTEPAD
Working with perpetrators of domestic and family violence
ANROWS Notepad | 21 May 2020
FROM THE CEO
More men are seeking help: Evidence must guide our response
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more men have been seeking help in changing their behaviour towards their partners and children.
Those who work with men to change their behaviour may be, more than ever, looking for the evidence base that points toward the most effective intervention strategies. It is timely, then, that ANROWS is currently finalising the last publications in our Perpetrator Interventions Research Stream.
Read more about our research with perpetrators in this editorial from CEO Dr Heather Nancarrow:
READ EDITORIAL
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Making change with men: Perpetrator interventions research
Several reports published recently under ANROWS’s Perpetrator Interventions Research Stream have provided useful insights into areas of best practice to reduce domestic and family violence re-offending.
Engaging men
Engagement techniques are needed to reduce attendance attrition in programs, including mandated programs. A forthcoming report on Exploring the client-worker relationship in men’s behaviour change programs examines the importance of a personalised approach to working with men, while Engaging men: Invitational narrative approaches investigates a particular practice approach to achieving this.
Collaborative practice
The importance of collaborative, interagency practice in addressing DFV reoffending is highlighted in our report on Invisible practices: Intervention with fathers who use violence, as well as the forthcoming Improved accountability: The role of perpetrator intervention systems.
Tailored interventions for specific cohorts
ANROWS research has identified strategies and principles for tailoring interventions to specific cohorts to enhance effectiveness. The theme of collaborative practice identified above emerged strongly in each of these studies, which highlighted the need for the DFV sector to partner with services for specific cohorts. These specifically included:
Young people: The PIPA project: Positive interventions for perpetrators of adolescent violence in the home found that responses to young people who use violence against their families—including court responses —must take a whole-of-family approach to risk assessment, support and accountability. Good practice in delivering and evaluating interventions for young people with harmful sexual behaviours examines strategies for working with this cohort, who account for a significant proportion of sexual abuse against children and young people.
LGBTQ people: Developing LGBTQ programs for perpetrators and victims/survivors of domestic and family violence highlights the need to improve recognition and understanding of LGBTQ DFV, within both LGBTQ communities and mainstream services. It suggests the development and trial of programs tailored to address the unique and diverse needs among LGBTQ populations, such as identity-based abuse, and trauma from minority stress.
Men from refugee backgrounds: Best practice principles for interventions with domestic and family violence perpetrators from refugee backgrounds highlights the need to recognise pre-migration trauma and settlement challenges—as well as refugee family community structures—when developing interventions for men from refugee backgrounds who use violence.
Aboriginal men: Currently in preparation, ANROWS research into Improving family violence legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who are perpetrators of family violence examines practical and legal supports as part of a holistic intervention available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who are perpetrators of family violence. A forthcoming report also explores the positive role of Law and Culture in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in responding to and preventing family violence, with community participants stressing the need for men’s involvement in these conversations.
Safety and accountability planning (also known as exit planning)
ANROWS research on Evaluation readiness, program quality and outcomes in men’s behaviour change programs identified that program quality can be improved by strengthening safety and accountability planning, that is, by ensuring that men leaving programs have documented specific strategies to maintain any positive attitudinal and behavioural change. Safety and accountability plans may also note areas where change still needs to happen, and be provided to other agencies to support coordinated, systemic risk management.
ANROWS & THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Webinar: Preventing and responding to sexual harassment in the workplace: a discussion
Sexual harassment in Australian workplaces is widespread and pervasive. One in three people have experienced sexual harassment at work in the last five years. Overwhelmingly, they are women.
On Tuesday, 26th May 1pm-2pm (AEST), join ANROWS and the Australian Human Rights Commission in a webinar exploring the gendered and intersectional nature of workplace harassment, and how policies can be developed to create safe and inclusive workplaces.
The panel will include:
- Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins
- OurWatch CEO Patty Kinnersly
- Claire Pirrett, Senior Industrial Liaison Officer at the Northern Territory Working Women’s Centre
- ANROWS CEO Heather Nancarrow.
The panel will discuss findings from a report from the AHRC, Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. They will also be answering questions from the live audience.
REGISTER NOW
ANROWS continues to build strong track record in evaluation and M&E support
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are key business-as-usual activities for DFV/VAW services who want to know what works for their clients and how services can improve their delivery. M&E is also a means of building an evidence base around the quality of an organisation’s services which can then be used to support further funding applications.
For the last two years, ANROWS has been building its experience and capability in project and program evaluation and evaluation capacity- building for the DFV/VAW sector. Recently completed projects have included action research as well as end-line evaluations. Several projects have included building the capacity of sector workers to undertake all stages of evaluation: planning, implementation, data collection and analysis and reporting.
Capacity-building activities typically involve facilitating Communities of Practice, running workshops, and providing webinars and one-on-one support via telephone, video call or email. Much of this work has been undertaken remotely, which places ANROWS in a strong position to continue to provide valuable support to the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently a project team, comprising project manager Dr Peter Ninnes and project officer Celeste Koens, was engaged by the Municipal Association of Victoria to evaluate the Free from Violence Local Government Grants Program and the role of the Association in supporting local governments’ violence-prevention initiatives.
To date, ANROWS has undertaken a range of other evaluation and capacity-building projects, including:
- an action research evaluation of the 1800RESPECT Disability Referral Pathways project
- the first phase of work supporting the Office for Women in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet to develop monitoring instruments for and build[RG7] ing evaluation capacity in projects funded under the Free from Violence initiative. (ANROWS recently commenced the second phase of this project to support a range of funded organisations to plan and undertake evaluation. The work will also involve synthesising project reports to identify gains made against the Free from Violence initiative outcomes.)
- the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Projects with Action Research initiative
- the Building Safe Communities for Women and their Children initiative .
Read more about ANROWS’s evaluation work .
NEW REPORT
LGBTQ programs needed for perpetrators and victims/survivors of domestic and family violence
The “heterosexual face” of domestic violence can disguise its presence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) relationships.
A new ANROWS research report shows that this can leave LGBTQ people struggling to find and access appropriate interventions. The problem is affecting victims/survivors experiencing violence and abuse, as well as those who wish to change their violent and abusive behaviours.
The report, Developing LGBTQ programs for perpetrators and victims/survivors of domestic and family violence, presents the findings of a collaborative research project between ACON and Relationships Australia New South Wales.
READ REPORTOpportunities
Job: Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit seeks Principal Researcher and Coordinator
A fulltime Brisbane-based role as Principal Researcher and Coordinator (AO7) is now open with the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit in the Coroners Court of Queensland (CCQ). A contract is on offer until 31 December 2020 with possibility of extension. The successful applicant will provide specialist assistance to Coroners in their investigations of domestic and family violence related homicides and suicides, as well as child protection related deaths under the Coroners Act 2003.
For more information, or to apply, please contact Jordan.Cotter@justice.qld.gov.au. Applications close 29 May 2020.
Our Watch survey seeking your views on the second edition of Change the story
In 2015, Our Watch, ANROWS and VicHealth launched Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. The first framework of its kind, Change the story aims to drive and guide a consistent and integrated national approach to preventing violence against women.
Five years on, Our Watch is preparing the second edition of Change the story, to be launched in 2021, and they are seeking your feedback. Please take the time to complete this anonymous 5-minute survey.
Gender-based violence and help-seeking behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic
Are you a frontline worker providing support for women experiencing violence? The Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre has created a short, anonymous, online survey to measure gender-based violence and help-seeking behaviours during the COVID-19 crisis.
The pandemic is making help-seeking even harder with disrupted support services and in some cases limited access to communication technology. The researchers are interested in how you are adapting your services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please give your feedback in this 10-minute survey.
CFCA Practitioner survey
Are you adjusting your practice or service delivery in response to COVID-19? CFCA and the Families and Children’s Expert Panel Project are keen to hear how they can help the child, family and community welfare sector to support your clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are seeking your feedback in a short survey.
New resources and reports
Resources
Boxall, H., Morgan, A., Dowling, C., Brown, R., Voce, I., & Boyd, C. (2020, March 17). Domestic violence offending and reoffending in Australia: Key findings from AIC research [Youtube video].
Victim Support Service. (2020). The Rainbow Safety Guide.
Reports
Byers, S., Sutherland, G., Vashishtha, R., Kavenagh, M., Bollier, A.-M., Krnjacki, L., . . . Kavanagh, A. (2020). The Australian Disability and Violence Data Compendium. Melbourne: Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health.
Crisan, D. (2020). Economic Policy Trends: The Domestic Violence Crisis and COVID-19: Can Short Term Rentals Help? [Communiqués]. The School of Public Policy Publications, 13.
Hyland, M., Djankov, S., & Goldberg, P. J. (2020). Gendered laws and women in the workforce (Working Paper 20-7). Retrieved from Peterson Institute for International Economics website.
Roy, K. (2020). Here’s how to achieve gender equality after the pandemic.
The Group of Eight. (2020). COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery: A Report for the Nation.
Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID-19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support [Editorial]. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Advanced online publication.
Wilson, D., Mikahere-Hall, A., Sherwood, J., Cootes, K., & Jackson, D. (2019). Wāhine Māori: Keeping safe in unsafe relationships. NZ: Taupua Waiora Māori Research Centre.
Yi, W. (2020). How Does Industry Gender Ratio Affect Workplace Sexual Assault against Women? – A Panel Analysis in Canada (Public and International Affairs – Research papers).
New research
You can access this list and all the other articles in Notepad in the ANROWS Library.
Articles
Farhall, K. (2020). Towards an integrated theoretical framework for understanding women, work and violence in non-metropolitan contexts. Journal of Rural Studies, 76, 96-110.
Ferguson, C., & McLachlan, F. (2020). Predicting and assessing lethal risk in domestic and family violence situations in Australia (April 2020 / Issue No. 3). Retrieved from QUT Centre for Justice Briefing Paper website.
Fiolet, R., Tarzia, L., Owen, R., Eccles, C., Nicholson, K., Owen, M., . . . Hegarty, K. (2020). Indigenous Perspectives on Using Technology as a Supportive Resource When Experiencing Family Violence. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 1-23.
Harper, S., Gover, A., McPhedran, S., & Mazerolle, P. (2020). Assessing cross-national differences in police officers’ domestic violence attitudes. Policing: An International Journal, Advance online publicaiton.
Harris, B. (2020). Technology, domestic and family violence: Perpetration, experiences and responses (April 2020 / Issue No. 4). Retrieved from QUT Centre for Justice Briefing Paper website.
Johnson, L., Cusano, J. L., Nikolova, K., Steiner, J. J., & Postmus, J. L. (2020). Do You Believe Your Partner is Capable of Killing You? An Examination of Female IPV Survivors’ Perceptions of Fatality Risk Indicators. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Advance online publication.
Keddie, A., & Ollis, D. (2020). Context matters: the take up of Respectful Relationships Education in two primary schools. The Australian Educational Researcher.
Martino, E., Yon, A., & Whitzman, C. (2020). Planning with care: Violence prevention policy at the intersection of invisibilities. Cities, 103. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102764
Orr, C., Fisher, C. M., Glauert, R., Preen, D. B., O’Donnell, M., & Ed, D. (2020). A Demographic Profile of Mothers and Their Children Who Are Victims of Family and Domestic Violence: Using Linked Police and Hospital Admissions Data. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Parfanovich, I. I., Parfanovich, A. Y., Panok, V. G., Zdanevych, L. V., & Romanovska, L. I. (2020). Addressing Domestic Abuse and Violence via a Non-Formal Environment Seen as a Pedagogical Tool at University. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 19(4).
Rjiswijk, H. v. (2020). #MeToo under Colonialism: Conceptualising Responsibility for Sexual Violence in Australia. Journal of Perpetrator Research, 3(1), 29-41.
Simmons, M., McEwan, T. E., & Purcell, R. (2020). A Social-Cognitive Investigation of Young Adults Who Abuse Their Parents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
van Gelder, N. E., van Rosmalen-Nooijens, K. A. W. L., A Ligthart, S., Prins, J. B., Oertelt-Prigione, S., & Lagro-Janssen, A. L. M. (2020). SAFE: an eHealth intervention for women experiencing intimate partner violence – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial, process evaluation and open feasibility study. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 640.
Verdouw, T. (2020). A visual investigation and exploration into the physical and psychological effects of trauma through a lived experience of domestic violence. Parity, 33(2), 56.
In the media
Watch
Positive interventions for adolescents using violence at home—University of Tasmania
Listen
The Brain Architects Podcast: Domestic Violence and Shelter-In-Place—Harvard Centre on the Developing Child
Read
LGBT+ people think domestic violence is a cis-straight issue, study finds. They’re wrong—Pink News
Support Needed For LGBTQ Communities To Better Recognise Domestic And Family Violence And Seek Help—Curve Magazine
Family violence campaign launched as Melbourne hospital’s emergency presentations double—ABC
The pandemic’s gender imperative—Marise Payne
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