Keynote: Keeping children visible in domestic violence research, policy and practice: What have we learned in 30 years?

In 1986, Peter Jaffe with colleagues authored a seminal analysis of children’s experiences of living with domestic violence. Their work made visible the need to focus on preventing, responding and advocating for children in this context. More than 30 years later, we need to ask ourselves how successful has research, policy and practice in this area been? Have we failed these children? What would be the hallmarks of success? This lecture raises these questions exploring both the hurdles and the facilitators in the actions to respond to children and young people living with domestic violence and charting a path for the future.

Cathy Humphreys is Honorary Professor of Social Work at University of Melbourne. A multi-million dollar program of research in the areas of domestic and family violence and out of home care has been sustained since 2006 and supported through 20, Category, Australian Research Council grants and numerous other grants from government, philanthropy and community sector organisations.

Developing the knowledge base to support practice and policy developments in the areas of domestic and family violence, as well as that of vulnerable children in out of home care drive the research program with her team at University of Melbourne. Seven projects in the past 8 years have worked with the Safe & Together Institute using practice-led, action research through facilitated multi-stakeholder workshops and Communities of Practice.

This research highlights the impact on, and importance of attending to children in the context of domestic violence. She worked at the University of Warwick for 12 years before returning to Australia in 2006. For 15 years she worked as a social worker.

Access the slides here!

Keynote: Strong Connections: Gender-Based Violence and Mass Casualties 

Emma Cunliffe, LLB, LLM, PhD Professor at the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia and Research and Policy Director for the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission 

The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission was tasked with examining the events of April 18 to 19, 2020, when the most lethal mass shooting in Canadian civilian history occurred. The Commission stated that “for far too long, we have misperceived mass violence as our greatest threat without considering its relationship to other more pervasive forms of violence. We do so at the expense of public safety and community well-being.” In this lecture, Dr. Emma Cunliffe, who served as the Commission’s director of research and policy, explores these connections and the responses needed to prevent further tragedy.

Keynote: Children bereaved by domestic homicide: The implications for home, relationships and identity

John Devaney, PhD is the Centenary Professor of Social Work and Dean of the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

When a parent is killed by their partner, their children experience multiple losses. One parent is deceased, the other is detained, on the run or has died by suicide, and the home has often become a crime scene. Post-homicide, key decisions have to be made regarding: where children will live; whether they will have contact with the perpetrator; and how to support children in the longer-term. Decisions on these and other issues have far reaching consequences while professionals often have little training/experience, and are often unclear about their role. Caregivers are central support figures, often with little assistance. Extended families often become spaces of contestation. Dr. Devaney’s lecture explores what we know about these issues and the implications for children in relation to their practical care, and their longer term sense of identity and relationships with significant others.

Keynote: Protecting children from domestic violence: It takes the Whole Community

The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children launched a lecture series to honour Peter Jaffe, a psychologist and professor emeritus at the Faculty of Education. Dr. Jaffe was a founding partner in the creation of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children in 1992 and was the Academic Director from 2005-2021.

He has influenced generations of researchers, mental health professionals, lawyers, judges, school systems, families, and individual children. The Peter Jaffe Lectures on Ending Domestic Violence which takes place annually, invites an anti-violence researcher to present a public lecture on their research.

“I’m extremely honoured to be recognized with the creation of this lecture series,” Jaffe said. “It’s my hope that these lectures will provide researchers, stakeholders and the public with opportunities to learn about how we can end domestic violence in our communities.” “Professor Jaffe has been instrumental in highlighting the problem of domestic violence and providing responses on how we, as a society, can overcome this societal problem,” Education Dean, Donna Kotsopoulos, said. “These lectures will give world-class researchers a chance to showcase what we can do to end domestic violence.”