Report exposes critical gaps in effectiveness and implementation of DV Disclosure Schemes in Australia and New Zealand
University of Liverpool’s Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, in partnership with Monash University, has conducted the first study in Australia and New Zealand to examine how effective domestic violence disclosure schemes (DVDS) are in enhancing safety of victim-survivors of intimate partner violence.
A new report, launched last week, uncovered significant gaps between the perceptions of practitioners and the experiences of individuals accessing Domestic Violence Disclosure Schemes (DVDS). The research, which focussed on the perspectives of victim-survivors, highlighted critical issues that challenge the efficiency of DVDS programmes in promoting safety and support.
Researchers, Professor Sandra Walklate and Dr Ellen Reeves from the University of Liverpool and Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon from Monash University found that applicants of the scheme reported shortcomings in support and safety planning opportunities. The study also revealed that for a number of victim-survivors, DVDS validated decisions already made, rather than influencing choices to leave abusive partners.
The research suggests that DVDS programmes may be better as recovery technique rather than as early intervention or perpetrator accountability tools. This reframing could involve re-evaluating programme objectives to better align with the realities faced by survivors, ultimately enhancing effectiveness in promoting safety and empowerment.
As policymakers in Australia and New Zealand plan the future of DVDS programmes, researchers call for a critical reassessment of their role within the broader context of domestic violence intervention.
Dr Ellen Reeves, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, shared:
"Our findings suggest a need to explore evidence-based alternatives that can more effectively address the complex challenges of domestic, family, and sexual violence whilst ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals affected. Critically, resources may be better spent on appropriately supporting the extremely under-resourced domestic, family and sexual violence sector than on initiatives that place the onus on women to manage their safety.”
Professor Sandra Walklate, Eleanor Rathbone Chair of Sociology, University of Liverpool, said:
“The findings from this project significantly add to the growing body of knowledge addressing the efficacy of DVD schemes and have relevance for similar schemes as they emerge across the globe. They are of especial value to those working with DVDS in Scotland, England and Wales.”
In 2014, family violence was declared a national emergency in Australia. In the years since, there has been extensive policy and practice reform at state and national levels, including the release of the Australian National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022 – 2032. The National Plan includes the ambitious goal of ending gender-based violence in one generation.
The findings of this research seek to inform current policy discussions and evaluations of the DVDS in all Australian states and territories, as well as in comparable international jurisdictions, including New Zealand, Canada, United States, England, Scotland, and Wales.
Access the report: Informed and safe, or blamed and at risk?: Examining the merits and limits of domestic violence disclosure schemes in Australia and New Zealand.
Related content
- Domestic violence disclosure schemes may not improve safety for victim-survivors of intimate partner violence – The Conversation
- Exploring the Outcomes of Divergent Approaches to the Policy Making Process: Domestic Violence Disclosure Schemes and Perpetrator Registers in Australia (2024) – Feminists@Law
- ANALYSIS: Domestic violence disclosure schemes may not improve safety for victim-survivors of intimate partner violence – Policing Insight