Preventing violence against women and their children
The Coalition Government’s zero tolerance approach to violence against women and children was reiterated today with the announcement of a new National Research Agenda.
Minister for Social Services, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash launched the National Research Agenda to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children today at Parliament House in Canberra.
“The lack of a dedicated, focused research agenda has been identified as a crucial missing element in our effort to reduce violence against women and children,” Minister Cash said.
“The National Research Agenda will help build a shared understanding of research priorities to support practitioners and policy makers.
“We need services and systems that are culturally appropriate, and work well across the health, justice and child protection sectors.”
Mr Andrews said the National Research Agenda was developed by the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), formerly named the National Centre of Excellence to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
“ANROWS is one of the most critical elements of the First Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022,” Mr Andrews said.
“The organisation was built as a partnership between all Australian governments, with $3 million each year in ongoing funding. But it will enable everyone, not just governments, to contribute to the evidence base on what works to reduce domestic and family violence and sexual assault.”
As its first key piece of work, ANROWS has identified key priorities including research to support primary prevention, and to improve service and system responses to women and their children experiencing violence.
This research agenda follows extensive consultations with a broad range of practitioners, researchers and policy makers.
The Second Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022 is due to be launched in mid-2014.