Who we are
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is the country’s independent, trusted voice for reliable and informed evidence on domestic, family and sexual violence.
ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments under Australia’s first National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (2010–2022). As an ongoing partner to the National Plan, ANROWS continues to build, strengthen and translate the evidence base that informs the current National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Our work is underpinned by a commitment to producing high-quality, policy-relevant evidence to inform and influence practice, service delivery, and systems reform. Since our establishment, ANROWS has led, contributed to, or commissioned more than 150 research projects. We undertake targeted research both internally and in collaboration with academic institutions and sector partners.
Every aspect of our work is motivated by the right of women and children to live free from violence and in safe, equitable communities. We engage closely with victim-survivors, communities, service providers, governments and policymakers to ensure our work reflects the diversity of lived experiences and supports collective responses.
We are committed to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and work to recognise and amplify the strength and knowledge that exists in First Nations communities.
ANROWS is a not-for-profit organisation jointly funded by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments. We are also commissioned from time to time by individual jurisdictions, and competitively tender for research and evaluation work.
We are registered as a harm prevention charity and deductible gift recipient, governed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Our CEO
Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine
Tessa was born, grew up and now lives and works on unceded Gadigal land in Sydney.
Prior to joining ANROWS in 2024, Tessa was the founding CEO of Health Justice Australia, the national centre for health justice partnership. Originally a criminologist, she has worked in health, criminal justice and human rights organisations in Australia and internationally.
She was previously Deputy CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service and was the inaugural Fulbright Professional Scholar in Nonprofit Leadership. Tessa’s PhD looked at the detention and release of mentally disordered offenders.
Tessa is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She combines her passions for enabling young people to thrive and for arts and culture as Chair of the Board of Gondwana Choirs, the leader in Australian choral performance.
She is also the Chair of the Australian Pro Bono Centre, providing leadership for the growth and excellence of pro bono legal services; and is an Independent Director of the Australian Communities Foundation.
Tessa’s TEDx on health justice partnership explains why seeing a lawyer might be good for your health and her TEDx on philanthropy through partnership argues against ‘bizsplaining’ and builds on her work as the inaugural Fulbright Professional Scholar in Nonprofit Leadership.