Launch of new centre set to create safer communities for women and children

Australia’s first and only Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) to promote safer families will lead research into the health effects of intimate partner violence on individuals and families, and how the health sector can respond.

The CRE was officially launched by Claudia Garcia-Moreno who leads the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) work on violence against women. Local and international experts on family violence spoke with one voice at a forum looking at how early intervention work can help create safer communities.

The CRE to promote Safer Families — led by professors Kelsey Hegarty, Professor of Family Violence Prevention from the Royal Women’s Hospital and University of Melbourne, Stephanie Brown from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Cathy Humphreys from the University of Melbourne will also research the health sector responses needed to improve safety, health and wellbeing.

“Many health practitioners have had minimal training and limited experience in identifying partner violence or how to respond if a patient discloses their experience,” Professor Hegarty said.

“We believe this to be the only such Centre in the world that has as its core, early intervention as a catalyst for preventing violence against women and children."

University of Melbourne Associate Provost, Chair of Indigenous Studies and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, Marcia Langton  said the CRE will work closely with Indigenous communities.

“The work of the CRE is relevant to everyone. The findings will inform policy and direction that will directly impact on Indigenous communities, creating stronger families and safer communities,” Professor Langton said.

The Royal Women’s Hospital CEO and Victoria’s Family Violence Steering Committee member Sue Matthews said improved research evidence was needed to help guide healthcare providers in how best to respond to family violence.

“Often healthcare workers, particularly those in our hospitals, are in a unique position to identify and support people at risk of or experiencing family violence,” Dr Matthews said.

“But we require more evidence to show that what we’re doing is improving health outcomes and life chances for people that we are seeing who are experiencing or at risk of family violence.

“We look forward to being part of the international research team that will undertake much needed research into the prevention, causes, effects and interventions related to family violence.”