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Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers and Access (SHEBA) Project

Posted by: Esther Gallois Posted on: August 11, 2022

Abstract:

The Safe at Home, Experiences, Barriers and Access (SHEBA) Project drew on a strong partnership between researchers (University of Melbourne and University of NSW), Victorian Community Sector organisations providing family violence services (McAuley, Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand, In-Touch, Centre of Non-Violence) and women with lived experience (The WEAVERs) to understand the safety and effectiveness of Personal Safety Initiatives (PSIs) and Safe at Home responses to family violence more broadly in Victoria, Australia. The project aimed to hear from victim/survivors of family violence who had accessed PSIs, and from sector practitioners delivering PSIs and Safe at Home responses to understand:

  1. Key components of an effective Safe at Home response.
  2. Facilitators and barriers to implementing an effective Safe at Home response.
  3. Evidence of how Safe at Home responses can be adapted to ensure the safety of victim/survivors to accommodate: a) emergency or disaster settings; and b) diverse population groups.
  4. Gaps in the current Safe at Home service provision for victim/survivors in Victoria.

Findings highlighted key strengths and facilitators, limitations and barriers for effective implementation of PSIs and Safe at Home responses in Victoria across phases of access, implementation and longer-term use. The project highlighted practice considerations across these phases that can be implemented in different organisational and practice contexts within the current Victorian service system. Combining findings with those from evidence in the literature, the SHEBA Project highlighted 12 key components for effective Safe at Home responses and their delivery, contributing to international literature concerning Safe at Home responses. The project made 62 recommendations to strengthen these 12 key components and support an enhanced future state of Safe at Home responses in Victoria.

Researchers: Cathy Humphreys, Kristin Diemer, Jasmin Isobe, Heshani de Silva

Publications:

  1. Research Report
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & De Silva, H. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project): Research Report. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27889083
  2. Research Report – Executive Summary
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & De Silva, H. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project): Research Report. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27889083
  3. Policy Brief
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., & Humphreys, C. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project) Policy Brief, November 2024. The University of Melbourne: Melbourne, Australia. DOI: 10.26188/27957123
  4. Knowledge Translation Report and Practice Guidance
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., & Humphreys, C. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project) – Knowledge Translation Report and Practice Guidance. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27950151

Funder: Victorian Government, Family Safety Victoria

Partner Organisations:

Project Dates: July 2022 – November 2024

Contact:

Associate Professor Kristin Diemer
E: k.diemer@unimelb.edu.au
T: +61 3 8344 9425

ESTIE: The Evidence to Support Safe and Together Implementation and Evaluation Project

Posted by: Anna Bornemisza Posted on: July 26, 2020

ESTIE is an action research study that is simultaneously investigating and developing practitioner and organisational capacity to drive improvements in collaborative and holistic service provision for children and families living with DFV where parental issues of mental health and/or alcohol and other drug use co-occur.

This Practice Resource is designed for any worker practising at the intersections of domestic and family violence, mental health, and alcohol and other drug use, with families who are challenged by any or all of these issues. It provides detailed guidance, examples, and tips, and can be used, for example, in training and supporting staff, as a foundational reference for practice development, and continuous improvement.

The ESTIE Quick Reference Guide is a desktop prompt for workers practising at the intersections of domestic and family violence (DFV), mental health, alcohol and other drug use, and child protection. It is a quick reference companion document to the ESTIE Practice Resource and should not be used without reference to the fuller explanations contained in the ESTIE Practice Resource.

The ESTIE Research Report provides comprehensive details on the background, methodology, practice findings and implications of the ESTIE action research study that both investigated and developed practitioner and organisational capacity to drive improvements in collaborative and holistic service provision for children and families living with DFV where parental issues of mental health and/or alcohol and other drug use co-occur. The report is designed for policy makers, researchers and those interested in the research processes and findings from ESTIE, and includes discussion of capacity-building and practice change components of the project.

Researchers:

Chief Investigators: Cathy Humphreys; Margaret Kertesz;
Jasmin Isobe (UoM); Erin Links (UoM); Cherie Toivonen (CLT Byron Consulting); Lesley Laing (University of Sydney)

Funders: NSW Ministry of Health

Project Dates: 2020–2022

Contact: Margaret Kertesz

STACY for Children: Safe and Together Addressing ComplexitY focusing on children

Posted by: Anna Bornemisza Posted on: July 26, 2020

STACY for Children (2019-20) involved two studies that investigated whether there was emerging evidence that the Safe & Together™ Model leads to better outcomes for children and families living with DFV and parental issues of alcohol and other drug misuse and/or mental health problems. Study 1 focused on interviews with those working and living at the intersections of these issues. Study 2 used child-case-level, de-identified administrative records to investigate whether the availability of the Safe & Together approach to practice was associated with positive outcomes for children and families in an Australian trial site where it had been proactively implemented.

Researchers:

  • Principal Investigator: Cathy Humphreys (University of Melbourne)
  • Lucy Healey (University of Melbourne)
  • Margaret Kertesz (University of Melbourne)
  • Arno Parolini (University of Melbourne)
  • Wei Wu Tan (University of Melbourne)
  • Jasmin Isobe (University of Melbourne)
  • Colleen Jeffreys (University of Melbourne)
  • Anna Bornemisza (University of Melbourne)
  • Larissa Fogden (University of Melbourne)
  • Susan Heward-Belle (University of Sydney)
  • Lesley Laing (University of Sydney)
  • Cherie Toivonen (University of Sydney)
  • Menka Tsantefski (Griffith University)
  • Patrick O’Leary (Griffith University)
  • Amy Young (Griffith University)

Partners:

  • Queensland Department of Child Safety
  • Youth and Women
  • Odyssey House
  • Anglicare Victoria
  • Jannawi Family Centre

Funder: ANROWS

Project Dates: 2019–2020

Contact: Cathy Humphreys

Publications:

Safe & Together Addressing ComplexitY for Children (STACY for Children): Key findings and future directions
Safe & Together Addressing ComplexitY for Children (STACY for Children): Full report

CMIM: Children and Mothers in Mind – Evaluation Project

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

Children and Mothers in Mind (CMIM) is a group program for mothers and pre-school children who have experienced family violence in the past. Developed as Mothers in Mind by the Child Development Institute (CDI), Canada, the Children’s Protection Society piloted Mothers in Mind in 2016-17 and introduced an adaptation – Children and Mothers in Mind – from 2017. Key components of CMIM include the Connections group program, the Mothers in Mind group program and ongoing casework with participants. The evaluation consists of post group and follow up interviews with participants and staff to complement the pre and post-group psychometric measures collected by CDI.

Researchers:

Dr Margaret Kertesz, UoM,
Professor Cathy Humphreys, UoM,
Larissa Fogden, UoM,
Dr Angelique Jenney, University of Calgary, Canada

Funders:

Key funder:  Learning Systems Grant – OPEN

Additional Funding:

Kids First Australia
Barwon Centre Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault
Family Care (Shepparton)
Anglicare Victoria
Quantum Family Violence Service

Partners:

Kids First Australia
Barwon Centre Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault
Family Care (Shepparton)
Anglicare Victoria
Quantum Family Violence Service
Merri Outreach Support Service

Project Dates: 2018-2019

Contact: Margaret Kertesz

Publications: Fogden, L., Kertesz, M. and Humphreys, C. (2018) Mothers in Mind: Independent Evaluation 2016-17. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.

Kertesz, M. Ramamurthy, A., Fogden, L., & Humphreys, C. (2019). Children and Mothers in Mind Independent Evaluation 2018-19 Participant and Facilitator Feedback: Final Report. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.

EVA: Evaluation, Violence, & Abuse – Building the Evidence

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

The EVA project is a 12-month evaluation capacity building initiative for family violence service providers in Australia. The project is a collaboration between Drummond Street Services and University of Melbourne to develop family violence specific evaluation resources, establish and develop a Community of Practice for services providing family violence programs and, where applicable, to provide direct consulting services on evaluation to organisations.

Researchers:
Prof Humphreys (CI), Dr Rose (CI), Mr. Gallant, & Dr Ovenden

Funders:
Drummond Street Services

Partners:
Drummond Street Services

Project Dates:
June 2018 – June 2019

Contacts: David Rose, David Gallant

Publications:

Building the Evidence: A report on the status of policy and practice in responding to violence against women with disabilities in Victoria.

Women who use force – Evaluation of Positive Shift

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

While the dominant pattern of domestic and family violence (DFV) is male violence perpetrated against women, there are some women who use force against adult members of their families. The majority of these women are themselves victims/survivors of DFV. At times women are wrongly identified as the perpetrator or seen as having responsibility in mutual violence.

This project is developing the Australian knowledge base about women who use force in a family context, and appropriate service responses. 

Researchers:

  • Dr Margaret Kertesz (University of Melbourne)
  • Professor Cathy Humphreys (University of Melbourne)
  • Jasmin Isobe (University of Melbourne)
  • Dr Anneliese Spiteri-Staines (University of Melbourne)
  • Dr Georgia Ovenden (University of Melbourne)
  • Lisa Young Larance (University of Michigan)
  • Professor Donna Chung (Curtin University)
  • Professor Robyn Martin (RMIT)
  • Amy Warren (Curtin University)
  • Assoc. Professor Richard Norman (Curtin University)
  • Darcee Schulze (Curtin University)
  • Dr Dave Vicary (Baptcare)

Funders:

  • Department of Social Services
  • Baptcare

Partners: Curtin University, Baptcare, Berry Street

Project Dates: 2018–2021

Contact: Margaret Kertesz

Publications:

Fathering Challenges: Reparative, Responsive, Responsible fathering where there is domestic and family violence

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

This ARC Linkage project is aimed at improving the parenting experience of children whose fathers have used domestic and family violence (D/FV) and brings together:

  • researchers from The University of Melbourne, University of South Australia and Curtin University;
  • a consortium of 23 NGOs (see list below) and;
  • governments from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

In an area where knowledge is partial and diverse explanations and approaches are taken in different sectors, the research design enables practice experience and research evidence to be drawn together to develop models of good practice, policy frameworks and the foundations for future comparative evaluation.

Researchers:

Prof Cathy Humphreys

Professor Kelsey Hegarty

Shawana Andrews

Dr Kristin Diemer

David Gallant

Katie Lamb

Anna Bornemisza

Associate Professor Leah Bromfield

Stewart McDougall

Professor Donna Chung

Dr Alan Campbell

Professor Nicky Stanley

Funders: ARC

Partners:

University of South Australia, Curtin University;

a consortium of 23 NGOs and;

governments from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Project Dates: 2014-2016

Contact: Kristin Diemer

Publications:

Holistic programme developments and responses to Aboriginal men who use violence against women.

Child protection and fathering where there is domestic violence: Contradictions and consequences.

“Your behaviour has consequences”: Children and young people’s perspectives on reparation with their fathers after domestic violence.

Aboriginal men’s programs tackling family violence: A scoping review.

Fathers who use violence Options for safe practice where there is ongoing contact with children.

 

Tilting Our Practice: A Theoretical Model for Family Violence in Child Protection Practice

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

This project developed a theoretical model to frame child protection practice where there are children living with family violence, in partial fulfillment of the Victorian Royal Commission recommendations for child protection workers. The integrative approach taken by the researchers builds on the foundations of The Best Interests Case Practice Model and aligns with key drivers in developing a child protection response that is research based and supports practitioners to tilt their focus to a more effective practice when responding to family violence. The framework and the accompanying Tilting our Practice Resource are designed to inform and complement training in this area for all Child Protection staff.

Researchers:

Professor Marie Connolly, UoM
Professor Cathy Humphreys, UoM
Dr Margaret Kertesz, UoM

Funders: Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria)
Partners: Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria)
Project Dates: 2017-2018

Contact: Margaret Kertesz

 

Caring Dads – Evaluation Project

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

Kids First (formerly Children’s Protection Society), in partnership with UnitingCare ReGen, Anglicare Victoria and IPC Health, are currently trialling and developing the Caring Dads program in Victoria, with a view to delivering the program across the state. In late 2016, our team was contracted to conduct an independent evaluation of the Caring Dads research trial. The aims of this evaluation are to build an evidence base for the effectiveness of the Caring Dads program and to investigate the process of implementing a new program within the Victorian service delivery system and the broader Australian context.

Caring Dads is a 17-week early intervention program developed in Canada by the University of Toronto and Changing Ways. The program is for fathers who have physically abused, emotionally abused or neglected their children, or exposed their children to domestic violence. Caring Dads works with fathers who have used violence in the home, to help them develop skills in child-centred fathering and take responsibility for the impacts of their violence upon their children and their children’s mother.

For more information on the Caring Dad’s program visit the Kids First Website.

Researchers: Cathy Humphreys, Kristin Diemer, David Gallant, Larissa Fogden, Anna Bornemisza, Anneliese Spiteri-Staines, Liz Vercoe, and Mary Karambilas

Funders: Gandel Philanthropy, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria

Partner: Kids First (formerly Children’s Protection Society), UnitingCare ReGen, Anglicare Victoria, IPC Health

Project Dates: 2017-2020

Contacts: Kristin Diemer, David Gallant

Publications:

Caring Dads Program: Helping fathers value their children: Three site independent evaluation 2017-2020.

RCUS: Reaching Children through Universal Services – Evaluation Project

Posted by: admin Posted on: May 25, 2019

This project is an evaluation of the Reaching Children Through Universal Services (RCUS) project (one of 26 Family Violence Therapeutic Interventions demonstration projects funded by DHHS across Victoria). As RCUS is a newly implemented demonstration project, the aims of this evaluation are to document the initial development of the RCUS program model and to ascertain the extent to which this model is achieving its intended outcomes. Baptcare has commissioned the University of Melbourne to undertake this evaluation.

RCUS is a child-centred, family-sensitive initiative focused on responding holistically to children and young people (aged 0-18 years) who are victim/survivors of family violence. RCUS uses an integrated model that aims to:

  • Deliver therapeutic services to children and young people;
  • Provide support, education and linkage to families;
  • Contribute to service system integration by providing an opportunity for collaboration between universal, family and tertiary services; and
  • Build partner organisation capability by providing training on the impact of family violence to service providers within the local area.

Researchers: David Rose, Larissa Fogden

Funders: Baptcare

Partners: Brimbank City Council, Melton City Council, St Albans Primary School & Community Hub, Kurunjang Secondary College

Project Dates: July 2018 – June 2019

Contact: David Rose, Larissa Fogden