Our Network
Associate Professor Danielle Tyson
Associate Professor in Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
danielle.tyson@deakin.edu.au
Associate Professor Danielle Tyson is Co-Founder and former Co-Convenor of the Deakin Research on Violence Against Women (DRVAW) network, and Co-Convenor of the Monash Deakin Addressing Filicide Research Hub. Dr Tyson conducts research in the area of family violence, legal responses in cases of men and women who kill their intimate partners; and filicide, the killing of a child/children by a parent or step-parent.
A link to Danielle Tyson’s Deakin profile can be found here and a link to the Deakin Criminology blog can be found here >.
Dr Kim Davies
Lecturer in the School of Inclusive Education, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
Kim.davies@deakin.edu.au
Dr Kim Davies is a lecturer in inclusive education in the School of Education at Deakin University. She is a critical disability scholar and an active member of the Victorian and Australian Women with Disabilities associations.
Click here to see Kim’s Deakin Profile
Dr Sarah Epstein
Lecturer in Health, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
sarah.epstein@deakin.edu.au
Dr Epstein’s ongoing research interests involve examining the intersection between feminism and masculinity and looking at ways to re-qualify women’s maternal knowledge. Sarah is currently continuing research into the role of feminist maternal practice in violence prevention and transformative gender practices.
Click here to see Sarah’s Deakin Profile
Professor Karen Caeyenberghs
Professor in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
k.caeyenberghs@deakin.edu.au
Professor Caeyenberghs’ vision is to better understand and treat adverse mental health outcomes in victims that have sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence victims, the third most common cause of TBI, suffer from among the worse symptoms, and are significantly more disabled, less productive, represent a greater burden on caregivers, and show less community reintegration, compared to patients who have sustained unintentional TBI (due to traffic accidents or falls). Professor Caeyenberghs’ goal is to provide non-invasive and objective diagnostic and prognostic evidence to aid in the clinical management of assault victims and develop appropriate clinical guidelines.
Click here to see Karen’s Deakin Profile
Dr Sevi Vassos
Lecturer in Social Work, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Sevi’s current research explores frontline worker perceptions of, and practice responses to, Technology Facilitated Domestic Abuse (TFDA).
Click here to see Sevi’s Deakin Profile
Dr Kiran Pienaar
Lecturer in Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
Drawing in feminist theory and new materialist approaches, Kiran’s research explores issues related to gender, sexuality and the body. She is especially interested in sexual cultures and the gendering of intimacy, including the ways in which dominant gender norms can reinforce violent masculinities and intimate partner violence. She has published on topics related to LGBTQ sexual cultures; drugs, addiction and the self; the biopolitics of disease; and public health and drug policy.
Click here to see Kiran’s Deakin Profile
Olivia Stephenson
Research Student, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
olivia.stephenson@deakin.edu.au
Olivia’s main research interest is primary prevention of violence against women. Her research investigates the role of neighbourhood and community houses in mobilising local communities to take action against gender based violence and promote gender equity. Olivia is also completing a Graduate Certificate in Health Economics to strengthen her evaluation skillset.
Ece Zongur
Research Student, Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
Ece is a Masters by Research student studying sentencing judgements of male-perpetrated intimate partner homicides. Her research explores representations of domestic and family violence and the depictions of coercive and controlling behaviour sentencing decisions heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria and New South Wales.
Stephanie Komazec
Research Student, Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
Stephanie Komazec is a PhD Candidate in Criminology researching reproductive coercion and abuse as a form of domestic and family violence and critiquing current responses in supporting victim-survivors who experience this nuanced form of violence. Her broader research interests include gender-based violence and the influence of embedded gender ideations in perpetrating violence, and victim-blaming ideologies. Stephanie also works as a tutor at Deakin Criminology and until recently, worked as a family violence crisis worker, supporting women and children in SafeSteps accommodation.
Elizabeth Jane Doery
PhD Candidate, Psychology, Faculty of Health
Geraldine Bilston
Masters Candidate, Politics and Policy,
Rebecca Buys
Casual Academic, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education
Dr Rojan Afrouz
Lecturer in Social work, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
z.afrouz@deakin.edu.au
Dr Afrouz is a lecturer in social work at Deakin University. She completed her PhD in 2019 which focused on Afghan women’s perceptions and understanding of domestic violence and their barriers to seeking help in Australia. Her ongoing research interest includes working with vulnerable women and communities to address gender-based violence.
Click here to see Rojan’s Deakin Profile
Dr Antje Kreutzmann-Gallasch
Associate Lecturer in the Deakin Law School
Deakin University
antje@deakin.edu.au
Antje teaches criminal law at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Business and Law. Violence against women plays an important part in the course. Violence against women is, for example, addressed when covering sexual offences and students are informed that the majority of victims are women. This course also addresses legislative changes and what constitutes rape and the reasons for low convictions. The course also addresses the barriers for women in leaving their abusive partners.
Click here to see Antje’s Deakin Profile
Dr Jessamy Gleeson
Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Knowledges, NIKERI Institute
Deakin University
j.gleeson@deakin.edu.au
Dr Gleeson’s research examines violence against women primarily in online spaces, and considers how the abuse and harassment of women can be both acknowledged and constrained. Dr Gleeson also examines the impact of violence against women on academic researchers.
Click here to see Jessamy’s Deakin Profile
Dr Bianca Klettke
Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Dr Klettke’s research focuses on cyberpsychology, particularly technology-facilitated violence. Dr Klettke’s recent research has focused on how to keep young people safe online, including online behaviours such as sexting and cyberbullying. The aim of her research is to help educate various bodies such as governments, schools, community and police services, as well as the parents of children and adolescents in order to promote evidence-based information to inform best outcomes in young people.
Click here to see Bianca’s Deakin Profile
Adjunct Associate Professor Wendy O'Brien
Adjunct Associate Professor Wendy O'Brien, Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
wendy.obrien@deakin.edu.au
Dr Wendy O’Brien’s research focuses on children’s rights, gender justice, violence prevention, and human rights-led law reform. As part of her broader work on non-discrimination and gender justice, Wendy also conducts research in the field of LGBTQI+ and SOGIESC rights. Wendy’s current research focuses on children’s rights and criminal justice in the digital age, as part of her broader interest in the human rights implications of the increased use of technology in the administration of criminal justice and social policy.
Click here to see Wendy’s Deakin Profile
April Loxton
PhD candidate, Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
april.loxton@deakin.edu.au
As a PhD candidate, my research focuses on the perpetration of sexual violence against men (adult and children), perpetrated by both men and women. Specifically, my current works address the accessibility of support for male victims as well as the barriers created by the social expectations of masculinity and femininity.
Laura Zark
PhD candidate, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
lzark@deakin.edu.au
Laura’s doctoral research examines cross-cultural differences in family violence and help-seeking behaviours among women students. Laura is interested in all forms of violence against women and the gendered drivers of violence against women.
Ha Le
Research Fellow, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Dr Ha Le’s main research focuses on the economic assessment of prevention interventions for family violence and violence against women. Ha has led multiple economic evaluations of various prevention interventions for family violence, funded by the NSW and SA governments (i.e., routine screening of DFV for NSW women) and to support vulnerable families with complex needs in Western South Australia.
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Dr Kyja Noack-Lundberg
Associate Lecturer, Sociology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education
Deakin University
Dr Kyja Noack-Lundberg is Associate Lecturer in Sociology.
Click here to see Kyja’s Deakin Profile
Dr Amie O'Shea
Dr O'Shea is a Lecturer in Disability & Inclusion, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Dr O’Shea’s background is in disability, specifically primary prevention of violence against women with disability. She also works in LGBTIQA+ spaces and have an interest in intersectional approaches to PVAW.
Click here to see Amie’s Deakin Profile
Associate Professor Priscilla Dunk-West
Associate Professor, Social Work, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Dr Dunk-West is Associate Professor, Social Work, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University.
Click here to see Priscilla’s Deakin Profile
Associate Professor Lisa Gold
Associate Professor in the School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
lisa.gold@deakin.edu.au
Associate Professor Lisa Gold is an economist who works in program evaluation, including interventions on intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence against women (VaW) – particularly trial-based and economic evaluation. Lisa has worked on violence prevention trials over the last 10 years, mainly with research led by La Trobe University’s Judith Lumley Centre and The University of Melbourne.
Click here to see Lisa’s Deakin Profile
Dr Tricia Ong
Lecturer in Health Communication, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
tricia.ong@deakin.edu.au
Dr Tricia Ong has a PhD in public health for research on a reproductive health study with young women who have been trafficked into the sex industry in Nepal. This inspires Tricia’s interest in violence against women in different cultural contexts.
Click here to see Tricia’s Deakin Profile
Dr Kim Robinson
Senior Lecturer in Social Work, School of Health & Social Development, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
kim.robinson@deakin.edu.au
Dr Robinson has been a social work practitioner and manager in community health and refugee services in Australia, Timor Leste and the UK, and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Deakin. Kim’s research interests are focused on frontline healthcare and social workers working with refugees and asylum seekers, service provision in health and social work settings, family violence, human rights, strategies for community development and empowerment of CALD communities. Kim has published in the areas of asylum and refugee mental health, family violence, and social justice issues with young unaccompanied minors.
Click here to see Kim’s Deakin Profile
Professor Amanda Keddie
Professor of Education, School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
amanda.keddie@deakin.edu.au
Professor Keddie leads the program: Children, Young People and their Communities within the REDI (Research for Educational Impact) Centre. Professor Keddie’s research focuses on educative interventions for gender justice, largely in schools but also within community settings. Professor Keddie draws on feminist, postcolonial theories and social justice theories to examine issues of gendered violence, with a particular interest in problematising harmful masculinities.
Click here to see Amanda’s Deakin Profile
Claire Stonehouse
Lecturer in Education & PhD candidate, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
claire.stonehouse@deakin.edu.au
Ms Claire Stonehouse has been involved in the RRiE research with Dr Debbie Ollis to help design curriculum for secondary students. She currently teaches about RR in 3 units across the primary and secondary BEd courses. Her PhD (currently writing up) is interested in how parents teach their children about sexuality education.
Click here to see Claire’s Deakin Profile
Dominika Howard
PhD Candidate, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
dominika.howard@deakin.edu.au
Dominika is interested in image-based sexual violence (sexting), stalking, and online harassment. Dominika’s research has focused on unwanted/pressured sexting. Dominika is also interested in exploring the help-seeking behaviours of women who have experienced image-based sexual abuse.
Lauren Sheppard
PhD candidate
Deakin University
Lauren’s doctoral research focuses on gender-based violence through a health economics lens.
Associate Professor Anna Halafoff
Associate Professor of Education, School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
Dr Anna Halafoff is Associate Professor of Sociology. As a sociologist of religion, with a background in peace and conflict studies, her research is focused on religion, direct and structural violence, and peacebuilding. Dr Halafoff is currently conducting research on Buddhism, gender, and preventing violence against women in Victoria.
Click here to see Anna’s Deakin Profile
Meu Supol
Casual Research Assistant, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health
Deakin University
Meu’s research interests include family violence against women (particularly intimate partner violence and adolescent family violence) and the modifiable factors that could be targeted in prevention and intervention, especially intimate partner violence and child-to-parent violence, which is frequently perpetrated by males towards females. Meu is also particularly interested in the factors that influence help-seeking behaviour and the practices or programs that can prevent family violence and improve outcomes for those affected.
Dr Ruth Fitzpatrick
Dr Ruth Fitzpatrick is a casual academic, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education
Deakin University
Dr Fitzpatrick’s research interests include the ways in which religious and spiritual communities, identities, ideas and experiences can facilitate and perpetuate gendered violence and/or/simultaneously be a resource to disrupt, challenge and liberate women (& men) from forms of gendered violence and harm.
Click here to see Ruth’s Deakin Profile
Jessica Woolley
PhD Candidate, Criminology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Education