History of Safer Families Centre

Abstract geometric pattern with overlapping shapes in warm colors including orange, purple, yellow, and red.

Centre of Research Excellence

In 2017 the National Health and Medical Research Council awarded Kelsey Hegarty a Centre of Research Excellence to promote safer families - tailoring early identification and novel interventions for intimate partner violence. In a collaboration between University of Melbourne (UoM), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), La Trobe University and South Australia Health and Medical Institute, the Centre was led by Kelsey in a co-directorship with Stephanie Brown (MCRI) and Cathy Humphreys (UoM) and managed by Simone Gleeson (UoM) 2017-2022. The Centre successfully built evidence for system change to strengthen the health sector as a crucial gateway to care, recovery and healing for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

In 2020, the Centre partnered with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Blue Knot Foundation and Phoenix Australia to develop, deliver and lead a national domestic and family violence training arm for primary care: The Readiness Program.

Today the Centre continues its research and collaboration to develop and evaluate training and tools for health practitioners to help improve the safety, health and wellbeing of families and communities.

  • A smiling woman with gray hair and glasses, wearing a black top, in an indoor setting.

    Kelsey Hegarty

  • Smiling woman with brown hair and a patterned blouse standing outdoors near green foliage.

    Simone Gleeson

  • A mature woman with short reddish-brown hair, glasses, and earrings, smiling at the camera against a plain light green background.

    Cathy Humphreys

  • A woman with short brown hair, purple glasses, and hoop earrings smiling at the camera, wearing a green top against a gray background.

    Stephanie Brown

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group

The Safer Families Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership group played an important role in the establishment of the Safer Families Centre. During the period 2017-2022 the Leadership group provided us with invaluable learning enabling us to set research outcomes benefiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities and understand appropriate research protocols for transparency of networking and engagement with communities related to the work of the Centre. We are forever grateful to each and every member of the Leadership group.

  • A smiling man with gray hair wearing a suit and tie against an orange background.

    Mick Adams

    Former Ambassador

  • A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a navy blue top, smiling in front of a wooden panel background.

    Karen Glover

    Former Co-Chair

  • A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a patterned blouse, standing in front of a teal-colored wall or cabinet.

    Shawana Andrews

    Former Co-Chair

  • A man with shoulder-length blonde hair and a beard, wearing a black shirt, smiling in front of a plain white wall.

    Brad Anderson

    Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Support Officer

  • Portrait of a man with a beard wearing a suit and light blue shirt, smiling at the camera.

    David Gallant

    Former Centre Scholar

  • A smiling woman with curly hair wearing a black top, standing in front of a brick wall.

    Renee Fiolet

    Former Centre Scholar