New project aims to understand the experience of women who have experienced abuse from a partner

Complete this confidential, online survey to support a better understanding of women’s health and wellbeing.

The VOICE project is a study of Australian adults who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) or sexual violence (SV), as well as people who have used these behaviours in their relationships. The study takes a mixed methods approach and is divided into two phases.

Phase one is a national survey, which seeks to recruit 1000 female victim survivors, and 500 people of any gender who have used IPV or SV in their intimate relationships with women.

The VOICE project was conceived through discussions between Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) and the Safer Families Centre for Research Excellence, based at the University of Melbourne.

Little is known about the needs and experiences of specific cohorts of women; for example lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women, culturally and linguistically diverse women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and economically disadvantaged women. While it is generally thought that women from these demographics are at higher risk of experiencing violence, little is known about their specific experiences.  

This study aims to influence the policy and practice of current support services (both specialist violence as well as broader health services). The VOICE project believes that if services are more informed by the voices of the populations they serve, they will be more effective and better utilised by the populations that need them. Additionally, they believe if the barriers and facilitators of help-seeking, particularly for people using violence or at risk of using violence are identified, services will be able to provide support before violence escalation, thereby contributing to the reduction of IPV and SV in the Australian community.

VOICES Survey – Survivors

The VOICE project is seeking participation from women who live in Australia, are aged 18+, and have experienced any form of IPV or SV in the last five years. In order to find out more about the project or to participate, please visit: https://www.saferfamilies.org.au/anrows-survivor-voices

VOICES Survey – Other

What makes the VOICE project particularly unique is the inclusion of the voices of people who have been concerned about their own behaviours in relationships. The project seeks to hear from people who have been concerned about their behaviours towards their intimate partners and have sought help for their behaviours or have experienced barriers when attempting to do so. They also want to hear from people who have never sought help in order to better understand what barriers to help-seeking exist.

If you have ever been in a relationship with a woman and have ever been concerned about your behaviours or have had someone else express concern about your behaviours in intimate relationships in the last five years, please consider participating in this survey. In order to find out more about the project or to participate, please visit: https://www.saferfamilies.org.au/anrows-voices. This survey is available to those aged 18+ of any gender, living in Australia.

The surveys close on 1 September 2021. If you have any questions, please email voice_project@unimelb,edu.au.