DAHLIA-19
Domestic abuse: Harnessing learning internationally under COVID-19 (the DAHLIA-19 study)
12 months
Starting in December 2020, ANROWS worked in partnership with the University of Melbourne on DAHLIA-19, an international research study exploring domestic and family violence service provision – and in particular, innovative practice – in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research took place in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa, and was funded by the UKRI’s Economic and Social Research Council.
Across the world, the risks of experiencing DFV increased due to restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. While a number of policy initiatives and innovative practices emerged to address these heightened risks, not much is known about their impact.
As part of the DAHLIA-19 study, ANROWS and the University of Melbourne collected and analysed data on Australian responses to DFV, both directly through specialist services and more broadly through allied sectors. The study amalgamated findings from all four countries to influence approaches to future pandemics and disasters in terms of responses for victims and survivors, children and perpetrators.
The Australian in-country report, one of the study’s interim reports, is available to download. This report, written by a team from the University of Melbourne and ANROWS staff, examines prevention strategies and responses to DFV in Australia in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The summary report examines Australian initiatives and incorporates interviews with 10 experts and a rapid review of available policy documents and reports covering service responses in the period until June 30 2021.
ANROWS has also recently published a case study as part of the larger research project, focusing on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia’s National COVID-19 List. The case study situates the introduction of the List among a wider context of the shift to online models ushered in by restrictions associated with the public health response to the pandemic. It also considers the List as one of a number of reforms currently taking place in the family law arena in Australia.
Downloads
Researchers
Project lead/s
Gemma McKibbin, University of Melbourne
Cathy Humphreys, University of Melbourne
Research team
Esther Gallois, University of Melbourne
Michele Robinson, ANROWS
Jennifer Sijnja, ANROWS
Janice Yeung, ANROWS
Rebecca Goodbourn, ANROWS
Research partners
Family Safety Victoria
Funding
This project was funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Economic and Social Research Council.
See also
PROJECT
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on experiences of intimate partner violence among Australian women
Find out more