PEOPLE WHO USE VIOLENCE (NPRF 24.05)
Using data to respond to domestic and family violence perpetration within military and veteran families
2 years
Domestic and family violence (DFV) presents a significant issue within both current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Strategies are required to address the use of violence in this population and to facilitate collaboration between military and veteran-centric agencies and community organisations.
Research aims
This project aims to lay the groundwork for monitoring trends in DFV use among ADF personnel and veterans through ongoing data analysis. It will also ensure that methods for data use are informed by a deep understanding of military cultural and organisational contexts, as well as veteran-centric systems. This may also improve understandings of how these contexts may enable the continued use of DFV.
Methods
- Data mapping and profiling: Potentially informative data sources will be identified from existing data sets, while descriptive profiles of data will be developed and used to select key sources for analyses.
- Data analysis: Following data access negotiations, descriptive and trend analyses of data regarding DFV use will be conducted.
- Qualitative data collection: Interviews and focus groups will be conducted to explore the contexts for data collection and points of contact with service systems, as well as roles of military and veteran-centric systems and contexts in enabling DFV use. Participants include service users including current or former military personnel who have experiences of DFV use, the family members of personnel, service providers and current or recently retired service leaders or senior stakeholders in military or veteran-centric services.
Significance
Data mapping and analyses will lay the foundations for regular reporting on DFV, and benchmarking against goals of ending violence in military and veteran families. Enhanced data on DFV will aid victims and survivors by enabling better detection and intervention.
This improvement will extend to both military and veteran-specific environments, as well as to mainstream services that similarly require enhanced data gathering. Finally, services will benefit from improved understanding and sensitivity to military cultural and organisational contexts, as well as veteran-centric systems.
Researchers
Project lead
Associate Professor Sean Cowlishaw, Turner Institute for Brain & Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University.
Research team
Dr Jasmine McGowan, Lecturer in Criminology, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, lead researcher, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre
Dr Jody Hughes, Senior Manager, Defence and Veteran Family Research program, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Associate Professor Jon Lane, Psychiatry Lead, University of Tasmania School of Medicine, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), veterans’ and families counselling service Open Arms, Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Army Reserve.
Ms Cath Allen, Wellbeing Support Services Manager, RSL LifeCare, major Ex-Service organisation, provider of veteran-centric mental health, wellbeing, and family support services, Australia
Dr Nina Hudson, Research Fellow, Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence team, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Dr Salma Ahmed, Senior Research Officer, Defence and Veteran Family Research program, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Research partners
This project will be conducted in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
Budget
$435,428 (excluding GST)
This project is co-funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services ($233,430) and the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs ($201,998).