Our research
The Gendered Violence Research Network is dedicated to preventing and responding to gendered violence wherever it occurs – in workplaces, in homes, and at institutions like universities.
Domestic & Family Violence
According to the 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey, around 1 in 6 women and 1 in 18 men have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence at the hands of a current or previous cohabitating partner since the age of 15. GVRN are committed to producing research and conducting training and consultancy that aims to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence in workplaces, universities, homes and in society broadly.
Spotlight on our research
Co-occurrence of domestic and family violence and child sexual abuse
Research on the overlap between domestic and family violence (DFV) and child sexual abuse (CSA) is limited, with varying co-occurrence rates from 12% to 70%, and this review aims to systematically examine existing studies to understand the wide variation in prevalence rates.
Improving legal, policy and practice responses to the intersection of domestic violence perpetration and child sexual abuse offending
This project will provide essential insights into the challenges of responding effectively to the intersections of domestic and family violence (DFV) and familial child sexual abuse (CSA). DFV perpetrators are at increased risk of sexually abusing their children, however, responses to DFV and CSA are siloed and lack coordination.
Financial Institutional Responses to Economic and Financial Abuse
GVRN has worked with the Commonwealth Bank to develop a series of papers understanding economic and financial abuse.
These papers covered the following topics:
Report one: Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse in Intimate Partner Relationships
The first research paper in the series sheds light on the prevalence, definition and impact of economic and financial abuse. The paper identifies how financial institutions and other organisations can better address economic and financial abuse through customer support measures.
Report two: Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse in First Nations Communities
The second research paper builds upon the findings of the first paper by considering how experiences of economic and financial abuse are informed by cultural context with a focus on First Nations Communities.
Report three: Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse Across Cultural Contexts
The third research paper examines the available research on economic and financial abuse in diverse cultural contexts and how it may be perpetrated within specific cultural communities.
Report four: Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse and Disability in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence
The fourth research paper examines the existing research on disability, economic and financial abuse. The paper focuses specifically on abuse occurring in the context of domestic and family violence, and notes the need for further research focused on the experiences of people with disability in this context.
Report five: Understanding Economic and Financial Abuse and Older People in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence
The fifth research paper in the series analyses existing research on older people, economic and financial abuse. It identifies a gap in the evidence base relating to the perpetration of economic and financial abuse against older people specifically in the context of domestic and family violence.
Report six: Legal responses to economic and financial abuse in the context of intimate partner violence
This report focuses on legal responses to economic and financial abuse in criminal, family and migration law – three areas of law with significant implications for victim-survivors experiencing financial abuse by an intimate partner.
National Audit of Safe at Home Projects and Development of a National Best Practice Framework
GVRN was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services to undertake a national audit and evaluation of the services funded by the Commonwealth Keeping Women Safe in Their Homes initiative, and the existing Safe at Home responses provided by states and territories. These programs aimed to assist women and their children to remain safely in their home and community, or the home and community of their choice, after leaving a violent relationship. The culmination of this work was the development of the Safe at Home Operational Framework which outlined best practice principles and elements of Safe at Home responses and promoted this be consistently applied across Australian jurisdictions.
Partnership with Allianz Insurance
Since 2020, GVRN has partnered with Allianz Insurance to research and understand the link between motor vehicles, insurance and domestic & family violence. We produced two major reports:
- Understanding family violence and the risks of insurance;
- Understanding family violence and the role of the car and insurance
Sexual Violence
According to the 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey, around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 15. GVRN is committed to producing high quality research about sexual violence and how to prevent it. The following are some examples of our work on sexual violence prevention and response.
Spotlight on our research
- National Standards of Practice Manual for Services Against Sexual Violence (Third Edition): GVRN was engaged in 2021 by the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV) to develop a best practice manual for services working with clients affected by sexual violence. This manual can be found here.
- Preventing and responding to workplace sexual harassment in the NSW public sector: GVRN was engaged by the NSW Public Service Commission to develop content for an Online Sexual Harassment Response Tool for members of the public service to be able to access anonymous and confidential information about sexual harassment at work including support and reporting options. This sexual harassment response tool is called SupportLink and is now in operation.
- Rapid Evidence Review into professional standards and sexual harassment - In 2021, GVRN was commissioned by the Professional Standards Councils to conduct a rapid evidence review of the prevalence of sexual harassment in the legal profession and identify the various impacts it can have on legal professionals, workplaces, consumers, and strategies that have been implemented to address it. The final paper can be found here.
Gendered Violence
The term ‘gendered violence’ refers to “harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms” (See the Stop. Empower. Support. UNSW Gendered Violence Strategy & Action Plan). Gendered violence is a recognition that domestic and family violence, and sexual violence is often perpetrated as a result of the same harmful norms and attitudes. Gendered violence includes behaviour such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, gendered harassment, and dating violence. For definitions of these terms, see pages 38-40 of the Stop. Empower. Support. Strategy.
The following are some examples of our work on gendered violence prevention and response.
Spotlight on our research
- Stop, Empower, Support UNSW Gendered Violence Strategy 2022-25: GVRN was engaged in 2021 by UNSW’s Conduct & Integrity Office to draft a gendered violence strategy and action plan aimed at preventing and responding to gendered violence on campus. This strategy and associated actions are currently in implementation. Read through the Strategy here.