La Trobe University > Research > Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research > Research > Reducing Gender-based Violence (ReGEN) > ReGEN research and projects > Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence

Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence

The Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence Project will evaluate community-led primary and secondary prevention of sexual violence interventions.

This project aims to deliver high-quality evaluations of interventions designed to address the drivers and reinforcing factors of sexual violence and determine what elements are most effective at preventing sexual violence.

The Department of Social Services is funding the three-year project.

Twelve community organisations have been successful in a competitive expression of interest process to work with the research team for 6-months to develop their program and evaluation. Up to 10 of theses community organisations will have their programs evaluated in 2025-2026.

The successful twelve organisations include Brisbane Youth Service, Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria, Centre Against Violence, Sexual Health Quarters, Laurel House, Learning Consent, Prosper (Project Australia), The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre, Sexual Assault Support Service Tasmania, Transforming Justice Australia, Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA) and Women's Health in the South East.

Research Team: Professor Leesa Hooker, Dr Jessica Ison, Felicity Young, A/Professor Kirsty Forsdike; in collaboration with Dr Jacqui Theobald, Dr Gabe Caluzzi (CAPR), Professor Adam Bourne (ARCSHS), Professor Nicola Henry (RMIT), Dr Freda Haylett, Dr Jacqueline Kuruppu, Dr Innocent Mwatsiya and Dr Sarah Vrankovich.

Our previous research

The Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence Project builds on research led by Professor Leesa Hooker and her team in 2020-2021, the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence and Harassment against Women Project (ASaPP).

The project, upon its conclusion:

  • identified high-quality, evaluated, and effective primary prevention strategies that address key drivers and risk factors (at all levels) for sexual violence and harassment.
  • explored and prioritised high-risk cohorts/target audiences for policy intervention, assessing barriers and enablers to engaging with primary prevention work. Synthesised data to identify the extent of sexual violence and harassment, levels of awareness, and attitudes and behaviours.
  • had consulted widely with specialist organisations and experts on sexual violence and harassment to ensure findings and recommendations are meaningful to sexual violence service users and providers.
  • developed a Theory of Change framework with stakeholders.

Research Team: Professor Leesa Hooker, Dr Jessica Ison, Felicity Young, A/Professor Kirsty Forsdike, Emeritus Professor Angela Taft; in collaboration with A/Professor Christopher Fisher (ARCSHS) and Professor Nicola Henry (RMIT).

Reports released in 2021: