The Andrews Labor Government is investing in research projects to build on its nation leading reforms and develop solutions to prevent and respond to family violence.

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence announced 13 successful projects funded under the first phase of the Family Violence Research Program 2021-2024. The research will identify evidence gaps and support service improvement and innovation in prevention responses to family violence and sexual assault.

The research topics include supporting recovery from violence for children and young people, addressing challenges to accessing family violence support for First Nations Victorians and strategies for engaging perpetrators and people who use violence.

The grants are part of a $2.5 million program to ensure Victoria can build an evidence base for best practice family violence interventions and service delivery and innovation leading to better outcomes for victim survivors.

The first phase of the program is designed to develop a better understanding of the

• prevalence, nature and impacts of various forms of family violence, sexual violence and harm
• effectiveness of current interventions, services and supports
• needs of specific priority cohorts
• understanding and responding to barriers to programmatic and policy success.

The program supports the delivery of the Labor Government’s Family Violence Research Agenda 2021-24 – which ensures research is embedded as part of Victoria’s landmark family violence reform.

Working in partnership with universities, the sector and industry is key to delivering research under this agenda. Of the 13 projects, four will be led by sector organisations and nine by universities. The peak bodies for the sector are also involved in more than half the projects.

Victoria is leading the nation with its work to end all forms of family and gendered violence, with more than $3.7 billion invested since the world-first Royal Commission into Family Violence – more than every other state and territory combined.