PEOPLE WHO USE VIOLENCE (NPRF 24.05)
Using data to respond to domestic and family violence perpetration within military and veteran families
2 years
Domestic and family violence (DFV) presents a significant issue within both current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Strategies are required to address the use of violence in this population and to facilitate collaboration between military and veteran-centric agencies and community organisations.
Research aims
This project aims to lay the groundwork for monitoring trends in DFV use among ADF personnel and veterans through ongoing data analysis. It will also ensure that methods for data use are informed by a deep understanding of military cultural and organisational contexts, as well as veteran-centric systems. This may also improve understandings of how these contexts may enable the continued use of DFV.
Methods
- Data mapping and profiling: Potentially informative data sources will be identified from existing data sets, while descriptive profiles of data will be developed and used to select key sources for analyses.
- Data analysis: Following data access negotiations, descriptive and trend analyses of data regarding DFV use will be conducted.
- Qualitative data collection: Interviews and focus groups will be conducted to explore the contexts for data collection and points of contact with service systems, as well as roles of military and veteran-centric systems and contexts in enabling DFV use. Participants include service users including current or former military personnel who have experiences of DFV use, the family members of personnel, service providers and current or recently retired service leaders or senior stakeholders in military or veteran-centric services.
- Environmental Scan and Co-Design of DFV Risk Identification and Assessment Protocol: DFV risk identification and assessment frameworks across Australian states and territories will be synthesised, along with data recording templates from major service improvement initiatives, and emerging literature on screening and risk assessment for people who use DFV. Interviews will explore the challenges and issues affecting services that engage in FDV risk identification and assessment across states and territories. Key stakeholder groups (including veteran-specific service providers, FDV specialists and leaders in violence risk assessment) will then be engaged in co-design workshops to develop a risk identification and assessment protocol that is suited to the needs of national services for veterans and families.
Significance
Data mapping and analyses will lay the foundations for regular reporting on DFV, and benchmarking against goals of ending violence in military and veteran families. Enhanced data on DFV will aid victims and survivors by enabling better detection and intervention.
This improvement will extend to both military and veteran-specific environments, as well as to mainstream services that similarly require enhanced data gathering. Finally, services will benefit from improved understanding and sensitivity to military cultural and organisational contexts, as well as veteran-centric systems.
Researchers
Project lead
Associate Professor Sean Cowlishaw, Turner Institute for Brain & Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University.
Research team
Dr Jasmine McGowan, Lecturer in Criminology, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, lead researcher, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre
Dr Tess Jaeger, Research Fellow, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
Dr Jody Hughes, Senior Manager, Defence and Veteran Family Research program, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Associate Professor Jon Lane, Psychiatry Lead, University of Tasmania School of Medicine, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), veterans’ and families counselling service Open Arms, Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Army Reserve.
Ms Cath Allen, Veteran and Family Wellbeing Lead, RSL LifeCare, major Ex-Service organisation, provider of veteran-centric mental health, wellbeing, and family support services, Australia
Ms Jessie Dunstan, Research Fellow, Family Law, Family Violence and Elder Abuse Research Team, Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Ms Tanvi Pappu, Graduate Data Officer – Systems and Services, Defence and Veteran Family Research program, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Research partners
This project will be conducted in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
Budget
$$510,842 (excluding GST)
This project is co-funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services ($233,430) and the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs ($277,412).