Social workers’ perceptions of, and practice responses to, technology-facilitated domestic abuse across Victorian family violence services

Background

Technology-facilitated domestic abuse (TFDA) is a course of conduct intended to deprive women of their liberties, freedoms and independence in domestic abuse situations. Despite its widespread and insidious nature, TFDA remains a scarcely researched area and little is currently known about how social workers at the front line of family violence services respond to TFDA.
Our study aims to build an understanding of social workers' perceptions of and practice responses to this form of intimate partner violence (IPV).

Aim

This study aims to build an understanding of social workers' perceptions of and practice responses to this form of IPV.

Methods

This research will use a qualitative methodology to obtain rich data on social workers’ perceptions of and practice responses to TFDA. Semi-structured interviews will be utilised. Female-identifying social workers will be interviewed who currently work across the family violence sector in Australia and have had a minimum of three months' practice experience prior to the interview. We are asking relevant DFV organisations across Victoria to contribute to this research.
Qualitative data will be collected via semi-structured interviews conducted on Zoom or Skype.

Significance

This research project has the potential to benefit family violence services and raise awareness of this form of IPV and develop appropriate practice responses. Having a deeper understanding of how frontline workers currently experience their practice in working with women impacted by TFDA will help social work organisations to continually improve their service delivery frameworks, policies and practices. There will be the potential for advocacy and policy change in this space. 

Project start date

July 2021

Expected completion date

June 2022