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Research

Our research

Violence against women and children affects everybody. It impacts on the health, wellbeing and safety of a significant proportion of Australians throughout all states and territories and places an enormous burden on the nation’s economy across family and community services, health and hospitals, income-support and criminal justice systems.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

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ANROWS hosts events as part of its knowledge transfer and exchange work, including public lectures, workshops and research launches. Details of upcoming ANROWS activities and news are available from the list on the right.

ANROWS

About ANROWS

ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and their children.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Resources

To support the take-up of evidence, ANROWS offers a range of resources developed from research to support practitioners and policy-makers in delivering evidence-based interventions.


Evaluation of Monash University’s “Course in Recognising and Responding to Sexual Violence”

Completed
February 2023

Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine offered healthcare professionals and frontline workers trauma-informed, evidence-based accredited training courses on recognising and responding to sexual violence. The course had two streams:


  • a three-unit accredited continuing professional development course for healthcare professionals (general practitioners, emergency doctors, medical doctors, nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners)
  • a two-unit vocational education and training course for frontline workers (e.g. lawyers, educators, community workers, public servants, aged-care workers).

This evaluation focused on: 

  • self-reported achievement of learning outcomes, including recognising various forms, drivers and compounding factors of sexual violence; understanding of community impacts of sexual violence; knowledge of barriers to disclosure; and skills in providing culturally appropriate and trauma-informed support
  • participants’ and trainers’ views on the training delivery modes
  • impact of the training on practice.

 

Methods

ANROWS led this evaluation in partnership with the Sax Institute. Evaluators used a participatory, mixed-methods approach. Stakeholders provided input into the development of the evaluation plan and data collection instruments, as well as during the data analysis and reporting phases. Stakeholders included Monash University, VET course deliverers (RMIT), and women with lived experience of sexual violence.

The main data sources were:

  • participant feedback forms for each course unit
  • learning outcomes assessment data collected by VET training providers
  • interviews with participants and trainers
  • a participant impact survey conducted 8 to 12 weeks after course completion.

Researchers

Project Manager

Dr Peter Ninnes, ANROWS

Research team

Evaluation Advisor: Anne Redman, Sax Institute

Evaluation Advisor: Dr Alice Knight, Sax Institute

Evaluation Advisor: Dr Sallie Newell, Sax Institute

Evaluation Advisor: Dr Shiho Rose, Sax Institute

Project Officer: Dr Tran Nguyen, ANROWS

Project Officer: Alimadad Rasoli, ANROWS

Research Officer: Nina Serova, ANROWS

Research Officer: Rebecca Pollard, ANROWS

Budget

This evaluation is funded by the Department of Social Services through Monash University.

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