From today, anyone around the world will be able to access an Australian-led data initiative aimed at reducing the rates of family, domestic and sexual violence.
The Evidence Portal is a new online tool created and maintained by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), one of the leading research organisations in Australia on family, domestic and sexual violence.
Funded by the Australian Government, the portal is a living resource of interventions from high-income countries that aim to address, and ultimately end, violence against women and children.
Building the evidence base is central to the success of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 and is a key action in the subsequent Action Plans. The portal will be updated with new evidence as it becomes available and will:
- Include the latest evidence and research available on family, domestic and sexual violence both nationally and in other high-income countries
- Provide evidence and gap maps, along with geographic data maps to provide a visual overview of the available evidence
- Inform users with made-for-purpose reviews of interventions which summarise information on the mode of delivery, key populations targeted and any costs associated with the intervention to help measure their effectiveness.
- Identify existing evaluation and systematic reviews, as well as evidence gaps where further research may be needed
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the Evidence Portal brings Australia a step closer to a safer future.
“This evidence base will be vital to achieving our goal under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, whichaims to end gender-based violence in one generation,” Minister Rishworth said.
“Easy, open access to this research means everyone can see what is working and what isn’t when considering new and effective responses to family, domestic and sexual violence.
“The Evidence Portal fills a vital research gap and demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to making a practical difference in the lives of women and children.”
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot, who will today launch the Evidence Portal in Brisbane, said it would make a difference in the efforts to keep women and children safe.
“We want to do everything we can to ensure this vital research continues to play a key role in identifying, responding to, recovering, and healing from violence,” Assistant Minister Elliot said.
“Expansion of and easy access to the evidence base allows us to continuously build more effective, trauma-informed support for women experiencing family, domestic, and sexual violence.”
Chief Executive Officer of ANROWS Padma Raman PSM said the Evidence Portal is a key instrument to measure the impact of the National Plan.
“The ANROWS Evidence Portal brings together reliable and relevant data so that policymakers, practitioners, researchers and funders can have a trusted site to find quality evidence,” Ms Raman said.
“To end violence against women in one generation we need to know what the evidence says, where the gaps in our understanding are and what programs and interventions are working - the ANROWS Evidence Portal will do just that.”
In the October 2022-23 Budget, the Albanese Labor Government committed $23.3 million in funding over five years to support the ANROWS National Priority Research Fund, which includes ongoing maintenance of the Evidence Portal.
The Evidence Portal is available at www.evidenceportal.au.
More information on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 is available on the Department of Social Services website.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au