History of Safer Families Centre

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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 during 2017-2022 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). 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, Kelsey’s team at Safer Families 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. Safer Families Centre in conjunction has since partnered with Primary Health Networks to deliver training.

The Centre has collaborated extensively with local, national and international partners. The Centre’s work is strengthened by key partners including WEAVERs lived expertise group, Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence Against Women and their Children, Centre for Family Violence Prevention at the Royal Women’s Hospital and RESTORE Centre on sexual violence recovery and healing.

Today the Safer Families Centre continues its research and collaboration through survivor-led, evidence-based programs and partnering to uplift workforce capacity to identify and respond, support the workforce, change health systems and improve service integration by building relationships between sectors.

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    Kelsey Hegarty

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    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 the Centre with invaluable learning and research protocols for transparency of networking, engaging and setting research outcomes to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. We are so grateful for the hard work and key contributions from every member of the Leadership group.

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    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