Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVe)

Overview

Based at the University of Melbourne, MAEVe is a network of interdisciplinary researchers focused on addressing the complex problem of violence against women and their children. MAEVe strives to make a difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities through collaboration and participatory research co-designed with survivors.

MAEVe draws together research and evaluation capacity from across the university in partnership with community, specialist sector, health and government agencies, as well as lived experience.

Watch recordings from recent MAEVe seminars

MAEVe is run under the auspices of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. Founded by Professor Kelsey Hegarty and Professor Cathy Humphreys, MAEVe is now co-chaired by Professor Cathy Vaughan, Professor Kate McGregor, Associate Professor Kristin Diemer and Associate Professor Laura Tarzia. The steering committee is a diverse mix of academics from across The University of Melbourne. MAEVe offers a platform to explore the problem of violence against women and their children through a range of perspectives, disciplines and contexts.

MAEVe strives to make a difference to the lives of women, families and communities by addressing and preventing the problem of violence against women through interdisciplinary and intra-institutional collaboration. Preventing and responding to violence against women and children is not the domain or responsibility of any one discipline. We believe that by working together we can be more effective and innovative in our ongoing efforts to end violence against women and their children.

Why Research Violence Against Women and their Children?

Violence against women is a worldwide problem that is serious, pervasive and preventable. In Australia, one in every four women has experienced violence by an intimate partner, with at least one woman being killed every week.

Enhance interdisciplinary, intra-institutional, and consumer co-design of research.
Strengthen and extend our external collaborative partnerships.
Capacity build the field through support and strong mentorship to students and early to mid-career researchers.
Develop, test and implement practical models of intervention.
Facilitate the open exchange of ideas and resources.
Become a research and innovation hub for the prevention and response to violence against women and their children.

Achievements

Awarded a NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) to promote Safer Families
Established a lived experience panel of women who have experienced violence, the WEAVERs, (Women and their children who have Experienced Abuse and Violence: Researchers and advisors). WEAVERs was developed to ensure that the voices of women and children are central to the work of MAEVe, and was conceived as having an advisory and co-production role to influence the research agenda of MAEVe
Monthly seminar series on topics as diverse as applying for family violence intervention orders, children’s experience of trauma and violence, reproductive coercion and domestic violence and housing
Provided seed funding for projects on violence against women and their children
Forums on Early Intervention to prevent violence against women and their children and the use of Technology to prevent and respond to violence against women and their children
Made submissions to the Royal Commission into Family Violence
Over 700 members on a database
Supported the International Conference on Domestic Violence and Health, November 2018 with 400 delegates
Over $10 million earned in grants

Principles

Work within a gendered framework to foster gender equity, safety and respect for women, and a violence-free future.
Keep women and children with lived experiences of violence at the centre of our work, hearing their voices, and including them as equals.
Commitment to work with transparency and an open style of communication.
Be respectful of our disciplines and frameworks, while maintaining the ability to critique and challenge.
Be optimistic and hopeful about changing policy, practice and community attitudes for the better.