Challenging heteronormativity in family, domestic and sexual violence policy

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Family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) policy in Australia and internationally has been shaped through heteronormative and cisgendered frameworks. While current frameworks have been influential in advancing recognition of violence as a gendered issue, they also impose narrow assumptions about gender, sexuality, relationships, and the family. These assumptions marginalise LGBTQ+ communities and constrain how violence is understood, identified, and responded to across all communities.

This event brings together leading researchers, practitioners, and policy experts to critically examine how heteronormativity operates within FDSV policy and practice, and to explore more expansive understandings of FDSV. Drawing on research, community knowledge, and practice experience, speakers will reflect on how heteronormative assumptions shape current policy responses to violence, how these can be re-imagined, and how current programs are going beyond these assumptions.

The program will feature speakers from:

• The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS)
• Rainbow Health Australia (RHA)
• Zoe Belle Gender Collective (ZBGC)
• La Trobe’s Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group (ReGEN)

Plus a keynote address from Prof Catherine Donovan, Professor in Sociology at Durham University (UK), and co-author of Queering Narratives of Domestic Violence and Abuse.

This event will be of interest to researchers, policymakers, service providers, advocates, and anyone who is interested in challenging heteronormative FDSV frameworks.

Details

3pm-7pm
La Trobe City Campus
Room 2.15, level 2
360 Collins St Melbourne

Access

This event will be held in-person only at the La Trobe City Campus.

La Trobe City Campus is a wheelchair-accessible venue. If you have any other specific access requests (e.g. Auslan interpretation), please email arcshs@latrobe.edu.au as soon as possible and we will make every effort to accommodate you.