Author: Rhys Lawry
KODY Research Team. (2023). Substance Use Coercion: The Intersection of Domestic and Family Violence and Alcohol and Other Drugs. Policy Briefing Paper, November 2023. University of Melbourne.
In the context of domestic and family violence (DFV), substance use often forms part of the tactics of
violence and abuse. Alcohol and (or) Other Drugs (AOD) when leveraged as a tactic of violence and
abuse is referred to as substance use coercion, though some stakeholders prefer the term substance
use exploitation. While acknowledging this nuance, this briefing paper will generally use the term
‘substance use coercion’ for ease of reading, and reflecting the dominant language over a 2 year
period in the Policy Stakeholder Group.
This paper discusses the current Australian policy context and the pathways forward for the inclusion
of substance use coercion in DFV and AOD policy, including the impact on children and young
people, and the need for an aligned national and state policy to reduce silos between sectors.
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Year: 2023
Citation:
KODY Research Team. (2023). Substance Use Coercion: The Intersection of
Domestic and Family Violence and Alcohol and Other Drugs. Policy Briefing Paper, November 2023.
University of Melbourne.
KODY Policy Stakeholder Group: Leverage Points for policy development across sectors: a systems approach. Report of Workshop 1, November 2022 (2023)
This report presents the findings from the first KODY Policy Stakeholder Group workshop held at the University of Melbourne on the 29th of November 2022. The KODY Policy Stakeholder Group (PSG) brings together professionals from across Australia who are interested in improving the policy environment and services for families experiencing issues with substance use and family violence. Stakeholders came from a range of sectors including alcohol and other drugs (AOD), domestic and family violence (DFV), child protection, child and family welfare and government policymakers. This report contains a summary of key topic areas discussed in the PSG Workshop:
- A synthesis of current knowledge on the relationship between AOD and DFV.
- A snapshot of the systems targeted by the PSG.
- A summary of presentations adhering to the knowledge diamond heuristic.
- An action plan with key priorities identified to guide the PSG’s future work.
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Researchers: Callaly, V. Kertesz, M., & Humphreys, C.
Year: 2023
Citation: Callaly, V., Kertesz, M., & Humphreys, C. (2023). KODY Policy Stakeholder Group: Leverage Points for policy development across sectors: a systems approach. Report of Workshop 1, November 2022.
Whole of family approaches for addressing family violence: An Aboriginal lens on the Safe & Together Framework
This project is exploring whole of family approaches to addressing family violence when there are intersecting issues of alcohol and other drug use, mental health and child protection. The Project will explore Aboriginal expertise on holistic approaches to this work whilst at the same time examining the applicability of the Safe & Together model when working with Aboriginal families in NSW within the context of invasion, colonisation and Stolen Generations. The Project is Aboriginal driven in collaboration with NSW Health. The Project team comprises both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers.
Researchers:
- Marlene Lauw (ML Consultancy Services) – Chief Investigator and Aboriginal Consultant
- Assoc. Prof. Shawana Andrews (University of Melbourne)- Aboriginal Consultant to the Research Team
- Irene Wardle (Warami Consultancy) – Chief Investigator and Aboriginal Researcher
- Lois Newman – Aboriginal Research Officer
- Prof. Cathy Humphreys (University of Melbourne) – Chief Investigator
- Cherie Toivonen (CLT Byron Consulting, NSW) – Chief Investigator/Research Project Manager
- Dr Margaret Kertesz (University of Melbourne) – Chief Investigator
- Assoc. Prof. Emeritus Lesley Laing (University of Sydney) – Consultant to the Research Team
Funders and Partners:
Funded by NSW Ministry of Health – Prevention and Response to Violence, Abuse and Neglect (PARVAN) Unit
Project Dates: 2022 – 2024
Contact: Dr Margaret Kertesz
KODY Practitioner Workshop: Practitioner-led Knowledge Building – Report (2023)
On March 16th, 2023, the KODY Program’s first Practitioner Workshop was held in Richmond, Melbourne. Practitioners and program managers from Kids First and Odyssey House Victoria (OHV), along with researchers from the University of Melbourne and Southern Cross University, attended the three-hour workshop. The first half of the workshop consisted of a case study presented by KODY Caring Dads (CD) facilitators to illustrate the work, and an overview of program referral data, client numbers and profile, presented by the research team. Interested professionals from outside the program attended this half of the workshop. The second part involved a conversation mapping exercise.
There was considerable discussion about the development of various aspects of the KODY program since it started in 2021. A wider conception of KODY than a groupwork program for men emerged – towards a program not only working with all members of the family, but also actively engaging with the services surrounding the family and working collaboratively and holistically with them. This paper presents the Case Study, and a summary of participants’ thoughts, fears, and hopes about the KODY program.
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Researchers: Guillou, M., Nguyen, H. T. D., Kertesz, M., & Humphreys, C.
Year: 2023
Citation: Guillou, M., Nguyen, H. T. D., Kertesz, M., & Humphreys, C. (2023). KODY Practitioner Workshop: Practitioner-led Knowledge Building. Report of Practitioner Workshop, 16 March 2023. University of Melbourne.
DICE ‘ROLE’: Disrupting Child Sexual Exploitation – Researching Onset of Young People’s Lived Experience with Coerced ‘Self-produced’ Material
This project focuses on how children and young people are being coerced to ‘self-produce’ Child Exploitation Material (CEM). This qualitative study will utilise an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to hear from children, young people and relevant professionals so they can identity the various pathways leading children and young people to ‘self-produce’ CEM. It is anticipated that by understanding the events and actions that children and young people are subjected to, that prevention and response strategies can be further identified, refined and implemented to help keep children and young people safe from exploitation.
Read more about the DICE (Disrupting Child Exploitation) Project
Researchers:
PhD Candidate Genevieve Bloxsom is being supervised by Professor Cathy Humphreys, Dr Gemma McKibbin and Dr Jennifer Davidson.
Funders:
A stipend studentship has been provided by McKillop Family Services as part of their Power to Kids Program.
Partner organisations:
In addition to McKillop Family Service’s studentship, they also participate as part of the Advisory Committee. This project is a nested study within the DICE (Disrupting Child Exploitation) Project.
Project Dates: Oct 2022 – Oct 2025
Contact: Genevieve Bloxsom
Programme responses for men who perpetrate intimate partner violence in the context of alcohol or other drugs: a scoping review (2023)
This scoping paper explored the contextual factors influencing the development and implementation of programmes addressing men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence in the context of substance use. Twenty-one peer reviewed studies reporting on ten programs were included for analysis. This scoping review found a limited evidence base, indicating systemic barriers hindering services’ capacity to expand this field of work. Additional support is required from the wider service systems to intervene in men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence and use of substances.
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Researchers: Callaly, V., Kertesz, M., Davidson, J., Humphreys, C., & Laslett, A.-M.
Year: 2023
Citation: Callaly, V., Kertesz, M., Davidson, J., Humphreys, C., & Laslett, A.-M. (2023). Programme responses for men who perpetrate intimate partner violence in the context of alcohol or other drugs: a scoping review. Advances in Dual Diagnosis. doi:10.1108/add-07-2022-0021
A systemic approach to advancing cross-sector collaboration between family violence and substance use service
This PhD project is an action research study that investigates systemic ways to improve cross-sector collaboration between substance use and family violence services. This project is nested within the KODY research.
Researchers: Van Callaly, Cathy Humphreys, Margaret Kertesz, Jennifer Davidson, Anne-Marie Laslett
Project Dates: 2021-2024
Contact: Van Callaly
Publications: Callaly, V., Kertesz, M., Davidson, J., Humphreys, C., & Laslett, A.-M. (2023). Programme responses for men who perpetrate intimate partner violence in the context of alcohol or other drugs: a scoping review. Advances in Dual Diagnosis. doi:10.1108/add-07-2022-0021