Designing effective prevention strategies for domestic, family, and sexual violence
In Australia, almost 25% of women have experienced intimate partner violence, and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Domestic and family violence is a human rights abuse that directly threatens the safety of women, children, gender-diverse folk, families and communities.
The UTS Research Community on Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence brings together researchers from every faculty at UTS to tackle one of society’s most pressing challenges.
Through interdisciplinary research and strong partnerships with government and community organisations, we generate new knowledge, develop evidence-based approaches, and support policies and practices that improve outcomes for people and communities affected by domestic, family, and sexual violence.
About us
For decades, researchers across UTS have been producing influential work on domestic, family and sexual violence. Early in 2025, the Research Community on Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence was established to bring this extensive expertise together.
Our research areas
Building on decades of combined knowledge, our current research is incredibly diverse and includes interdisciplinary expertise in business, law, health, design, communications and engineering.
Our people
The UTS Research Community on Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence includes more than 50 academics across UTS with diverse backgrounds, including law, health, design, building, business, communications, engineering and technology.
Jane Wangmann
Associate Professor
Faculty of Law
Mihajla Gavin
Senior Lecturer
Business School
Samantha Donnelly
Lecturer
Faculty of Design and Society
Anne Summers
Honorary Professor
Business School
Partner with us
We partner with academia, community-based organisations, government organisations such as the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, health providers, legal organisations, specialist support services such as Full Stop Australia and the police.
Story
Designing safety, shaping policy
Often hidden and complex, domestic violence affects far more lives than most people realise. Through the UTS Research Community on Domestic, Family and Sexual...
News
Breaking the cycle together
At UTS, two of Australia’s leading advocates in domestic and gender-based violence prevention are transforming outcomes for victim-survivors, enabled by...
News
The making of a movement
Fifty years ago, a group of women broke into a vacant home to create Australia’s first women’s refuge – changing the future of the women’s movement. UTS’s own...
News
The cost of domestic violence to women's employment
Led by Professor Anne Summers, this report quantifies, for the first time, the economic impact of domestic violence on Australian women.
Story
Designing safety, shaping policy
Often hidden and complex, domestic violence affects far more lives than most people realise. Through the UTS Research Community on Domestic, Family and Sexual...
News
Breaking the cycle together
At UTS, two of Australia’s leading advocates in domestic and gender-based violence prevention are transforming outcomes for victim-survivors, enabled by...
News
The making of a movement
Fifty years ago, a group of women broke into a vacant home to create Australia’s first women’s refuge – changing the future of the women’s movement. UTS’s own...
News
The cost of domestic violence to women's employment
Led by Professor Anne Summers, this report quantifies, for the first time, the economic impact of domestic violence on Australian women.