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Healey, L., Humphreys, C., Tsantefski, M., Heward-Belle, S., Chung, D., & Mandel, D. (2018). Invisible Practices: Working with fathers who use violence. Practice guide. Sydney, NSW: ANROWS.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2018 ,

Abstract:

The Invisible Practices project looked at what skills and organisational supports are necessary to allow CP practitioners, specialist DFV practitioners, justice services and family services practitioners to work well with fathers who use violence. Invisible Practices was an action research project that involved a whole-of-family approach called the Safe & Together™ Model. The project harnessed practiceled knowledge at five geographic sites in Australia. In each area, an interagency community of practice (CoP) was established, and these CoPs were supported by consultants from the Safe & Together Institute. This practice guide is based on the learnings that emerged from the CoPs.

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Macvean, M. L., Humphreys, C., & Healey, L. (2018). Facilitating the collaborative interface between child protection and specialist domestic violence services: a scoping review. Australian Social Work, 71(2), 148-161.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2018 ,

Abstract: Service provision in domestic and family violence involves complex responses from multiple systems. Early evidence involving other sectors suggests interagency working may benefit service systems and providers. This points to possible benefits for service users. A scoping review of models of interagency working between child protection and either domestic violence services or family law services, or all three services, was undertaken to improve understanding of practices that may facilitate collaboration between child protection and other agencies. A systematic search of nine databases and 10 organisation websites was conducted. Results were screened against selection criteria and 24 models were identified. From those, 22 facilitators for collaboration emerged and were grouped according to five interagency collaboration enablers: shared vision; formalisation of the model; authorising environment; leadership; and information sharing. These facilitators and enablers can be used to guide policy and practice development toward more integrated services for families experiencing domestic and family violence.

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Researchers: Macvean, M., Humphreys, C., Healey, L.

Year: 2018

Lamb, K., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2018). “Your behaviour has consequences”: Children and young people’s perspectives on reparation with their fathers after domestic violence. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 164-169.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2018 ,

Abstract: This paper presents findings from qualitative research undertaken in Australia with children and young people who have experienced domestic violence aged 9 to 19 years. The aim was to explore children and young people’s perspectives on fathering in the context of domestic violence as well as the key messages they believe fathers who attend a program to address their violence need to know. This paper will focus on some of the findings of the study, with a particular focus on the issue of reparation which was identified as a strong theme in children and young people’s accounts.

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Researchers: Lamb, K., Humphreys, C. & Hegarty, K

Year: 2018

McLindon, E., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2018). “It happens to clinicians too”: an Australian prevalence study of intimate partner and family violence against health professionals. BMC Women’s Health, 18(1), 113.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2018 ,

Abstract:

Background

The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner and family violence amongst a population of Australian female nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey in a large Australian tertiary maternity hospital with 471 participating female health professionals (45.0% response rate). The primary outcome measures were 12 month and lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence (Composite Abuse Scale) and family violence.

Results

In the last 12 months, one in ten (43, 11.5%) participants reported intimate partner violence: 4.2% (16) combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 6.7% (25) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 5.1% (22) were afraid of their partner; and 1.7% (7) had been raped by their partner. Since the age of sixteen, one third (125, 29.7%) of participants reported intimate partner violence: 18.3% (77) had experienced combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 8.1% (34) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 25.6% (111) had been afraid of their partner; and 12.1% (51) had been raped by their partner. Overall, 45.2% (212) of participants reported violence by a partner and/or family member during their lifetime, with 12.8% (60) reporting both.

Conclusion

Intimate partner and family violence may be common traumas in the lives of female health professionals, and this should be considered in health workplace policies and protocols, as health professionals are increasingly urged to work with patients who have experienced intimate partner and family violence. Implications include the need for workplace manager training, special leave provision, counselling services and other resources for staff.

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Researchers: McLindon, E., Humphreys, C. & Hegarty, K.

Year: 2018

Forsdike, K., Humphreys, C., Diemer, K., Ross, S., Gyorki, L., Maher, H., … & Hegarty, K. (2017). An Australian hospital’s training program and referral pathway within a multi‐disciplinary health–justice partnership addressing family violence. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 42(3), 284-290.

Posted by: admin Posted on: November 24, 2017 ,

Abstract:

Objective: An innovative health–justice partnership was established to deliver legal assistance to women experiencing family violence who attended an Australian hospital. This paper reports on a multifaceted response to build capacity and willingness of health professionals to identify signs of family violence and engage with referral pathways to on‐site legal assistance.

Methods: A Realistic Evaluation analysed health professionals’ knowledge and attitudes towards identification, response and referral for family violence before and after training; and use of referral pathways.

Results: Of 123 health professionals participating in training, 67 completed baseline and follow‐up surveys. Training improved health professionals’ self‐reported knowledge of, and confidence in, responding to family violence and understanding of lawyers’ roles in hospitals. Belief that patients should be referred to on‐site legal services increased. Training did not correspond to actual increased referrals to legal assistance.

Conclusion: The program built capacity and willingness of health professionals to identify signs of, and respond to, family violence. Increase in referral rates to legal assistance was not shown. Potential improvements include better data capture and greater availability of legal services.

Implications for public health: Strong hospital system supports and reliable recording of family violence referrals need to be in place before introducing such partnerships to other hospitals.

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Researchers: Forsdike K, Humphreys C, Diemer K, Ross S, Gyorki L, Maher H, Vye P, Llewelyn F, Hegarty K.

Year: 2017

Humphreys, C. & Healey, L. (2017). PAThways and Research Into Collaborative Inter-Agency practice: Collaborative work across the child protection and specialist domestic and family violence interface – The PATRICIA Program, Research Report. ANROWS Horizons, issue 3/2017. Sydney: ANROWS.

Posted by: admin Posted on: March 24, 2017 ,

Abstract:

This Horizons report sets out the findings of the PAThways and Research In Collaborative Inter-Agency practice (the PATRICIA project). It is one of five publications by ANROWS related to the project. The PATRICIA project focused on the collaborative relationship between specialist community based domestic and family violence (DFV) support services
for women and their children, and statutory child protection (CP) organisations. The creation of a service system which responds to the safety and wellbeing of women and their children, alongside supporting accountability for those who perpetrate domestic and family violence (mainly, but not exclusively, male intimate partners and ex-partners), has
been a circuitous journey. It is a complex system to negotiate, not only for the woman and children, but also for workers, managers, and policy workers in child protection organisations and community sector or non-government organisations (CSOs/NGOs) (Stanley, Miller, Foster, & Thomson, 2011)

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Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & Crinall, K. (2017). Safe at home? Housing decisions for women leaving family violence. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 52(1), 32-47.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2017 ,

Abstract:Internationally, domestic violence policy has shifted towards supporting women to stay at home with the perpetrator of violence excluded. However, the practical realities indicate that this is a complex arena in which the rhetoric of rights for “women and children to stay in their own home” needs to be underpinned by additional support to provide safety and protection for those choosing this option. The current study examines decision making about accommodation options and the role of civil protection orders among 138 women accessing domestic violence support services in Victoria Australia. It shines a light on the intersection between justice responses and the housing needs of women and their children leaving a violent relationship. Our findings reveal that for this sample of women, staying in their own home left them more open to breaches of intervention orders than those who re‐located. In spite of the frequency of breaching, a majority of women believed that they were safer with the protective order in place. We conclude that supporting women to “stay at home” with the perpetrator removed may be a pathway to safety for only a minority of women particularly if support from police and courts is not proactive and reliable.

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Researchers: Diemer, K., Humphreys, C. & Healey, L.

Year: 2017

Connolly, M., Healey, L. & Humphreys, C. (2017). The Collaborative Practice Framework for Child Protection and Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Services – the PATRICIA Project: Key findings and future directions. ANROWS Compass Research to policy and practice, issue 3/2017. Sydney: ANROWS.

Posted by: admin Posted on: March 24, 2017 ,

Abstract:

PAThways and Research In Collaborative Inter-Agency practice
(the PATRICIA Project) is an action research project focused
on the collaborative relationship between specialist community based
domestic and family violence (DFV) support services for women and their children, and statutory child protection (CP) organisations. The PATRICIA Project drew together a diverse range of participants from five states of Australia (New South Wales [NSW], Queensland [Qld], South Australia [SA], Victoria [Vic.], and Western Australia [WA]).

The PATRICIA Project comprised five components of research, each with its own methodology, set within an action research framework (see full publication) that facilitated a process of changing things while simultaneously studying the “problems” of developing collaborative work and strengthening perpetrator accountability (Wicks, Reason, & Bradbury, 2008). The intended outcome was to use evidence to foster greater collaboration to support
the safety and wellbeing of women and their children, and
strengthen accountability for perpetrators of DFV.

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Diemer, K., Ross, S., Humphreys, C., & L. Healey (2017). A ‘double edged sword’: discretion and compulsion in policing domestic violence. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 18(4), 339-351.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2017 ,

Abstract:Policing domestic violence is a complex area in which there are divergent views about the extent to which front line police action should be mandated by legislation and guidance. This study set in Victoria, Australia raised questions about the balance between discretion and compulsion in policing domestic violence through researching the implementation of the Code of Practice used to respond to domestic violence incidents. The project team interrogated aggregate data from the police database on family violence and also interviewed 125 police members (60 sergeants and 65 constables) to explore the attitudes to the Code of Practice and policing domestic violence. The findings reveal that discretion within a range of options is circumscribed. Variable understandings of the nature of domestic violence and the role of risk assessment and management suggest that constrained and guided discretion may be required to achieve optimum effectiveness in policing responses to domestic violence.

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Researchers: Diemer, K., Ross, S., Humphreys, C., & L. Healey

Year: 2017

Pfitzner, N., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2017). Research Review: Engaging men: a multi‐level model to support father engagement. Child & Family Social Work, 22(1), 537-547.

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 24, 2017 ,

Abstract: While there is a growing body of work on using fatherhood as an opportunity to engage men in strategies to prevent child maltreatment and further acts of domestic violence, there is limited research on engaging fathers in strategies to prevent domestic violence from occurring. To fill this gap in the literature, this paper explores existing father engagement frameworks used in child and family services and supports a multi‐level model of father engagement for domestic violence primary prevention. Drawing together evidence about father engagement from a range of studies, including the more general parenting literature, we describe factors that influence father engagement based on an analysis of the literature. These factors include accessibility, staff attitudes and behaviours, programme marketing and the format of service provision.

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Researchers: Pfitzner, N., Humphreys, C. and Hegarty, K.

Year: 2017