4AP.7
“What Works” to reduce and respond to violence against women
September 2023
The “What Works” project evolved to the ANROWS Evidence Portal, an online resource which allows users to search quickly and easily for information about what might work to address or end violence against women (VAW) in high-income countries like Australia.
This project produced a “What Works” framework to support the assessment of the overall value and effectiveness of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) interventions, programs and strategies.
This project developed:
- an Evidence Portal framework that allows for comparison between different practices and summarises the evidence base in relation to what works to reduce or respond to VAW
- accessible and practical information about the applicability and implementation of interventions
- directions for future research, including suggestions in terms of research design and recommendations around the measurement of outcomes.
Methods
The development of the Evidence Portal and resources was informed by a comprehensive review of the literature. The review approach consisted of a systematic evidence mapping process and a series of systematic evidence reviews. Given the breadth and complexity of the existing evidence and diversity of study methods used in the VAW research field, this study commenced with evidence mapping, followed by more focused research syntheses for a range of interventions.
Significance
This project provides an overview of “what works” across the VAW field, including primary prevention and secondary and tertiary response, and captures the range of evaluation methods used. The deliverables support policy and program staff in government and throughout the FDSV service sector to assess the evidence and effectiveness of different programs and interventions (including cost effectiveness) and make decisions in relation to research design, priorities and gaps.
Downloads
OVERVIEWS OF REVIEWS
Reducing relationship and sexual violence: Findings from reviews about the effectiveness of respectful relationships and bystander programs in school and tertiary education settings
Download
OVERVIEWS OF REVIEWS
The effectiveness of interventions for perpetrators of domestic and family violence: An overview of findings from reviews
Download
OVERVIEWS OF REVIEWS
The effectiveness of crisis and post-crisis responses for victims and survivors of sexual violence: An overview of findings from reviews
DownloadResearchers
Project lead
Associate Professor Dominiek Coates, Director, Research Program, ANROWS
Dr Elizabeth Watt, Research Manager, ANROWS
Lorelei Hine, Research Manager (Acting), ANROWS
Research team
Francy Bulic, Senior Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Tamsin Angus-Leppan, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Megan Rose, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Maria Koleth, Research Officer, ANROWS
Cassandra Dawes, Senior Research Officer (Acting), ANROWS
Charlotte Bell, Senior Research Officer (Acting), ANROWS
Dr Grant O’Sullivan, Senior Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Barbara K Trojanowska, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Holly Blackmore, Research Officer, ANROWS
Annie Smith, Senior Research Officer, ANROWS
Victoria Rasmussen, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Brigitte Gilbert, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Jess Ison, La Trobe University
Dr Rebecca Pollard, Research Officer, ANROWS
Rhiannon Smith, Research Officer, ANROWS
Dr Elizabeth Eggins, Research Fellow, Griffith University
Associate Professor Angela Higginson, Queensland University of Technology
Research partners
The project included both an Advisory Group and a Reference Group, comprising representatives from government and non-government organisations, including policy experts, FDSV subject matter experts and individuals with technical expertise relevant to the project (including expertise in evidence frameworks, evaluation design, cost evaluations, research methods, evidence synthesis, scoping reviews and evidence mapping).