SYNC-DFSV connects researchers from multiple disciplines across the University to advance knowledge on domestic, family and sexual violence, so that we can improve outcomes for those affected by violence.
SYNC-DFSV brings together researchers from across the University of Sydney to build a connected research community focused on domestic, family, and sexual violence. We aim to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, and create opportunities for multidisciplinary research and joint initiatives.
Our goal is to strengthen the evidence base on domestic, family, and sexual violence. Through collaboration, we seek to identify priorities and address gaps in knowledge to inform prevention, policy, and practice.
Our research spans a broad and interdisciplinary range of domestic, family, and sexual violence research, drawing on expertise across law, psychology, history, social science, health and policy.
Our work addresses diverse populations and contexts, including CALD communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, children and families, disability, workplace and technology-facilitated sexual violence.
Our expertise encompasses trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches, clinical and forensic assessment, family and criminal law, socio-legal research, coercive control, gender-based violence and policy reform.
Together, we bring diverse expertise to advance innovative, interdisciplinary and evidence-based approaches to understanding, preventing and responding to domestic, family, and sexual violence.
Researchers from the University of Sydney who are interested in joining SYNC-DFSV are welcome to contact Associate Professor Helen Paterson or Dr Iana Wong.
School of Psychology
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Ms Tanja Hirvonen | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander focus, trauma-informed care approach to research focus |
| Dr Peiling Kong | Child protection; childhood adversity; trauma-informed assessment and intervention; expert witness |
| Associate Professor Fiona Kumfor | Cognitive impairment; Neuropsychological processes |
| Professor Carolyn MacCann | Psychological factors of relationship conflict, e.g., motivations & strategies for emotional abuse |
| Associate Professor Helen Paterson | Psychological impacts of DFSV; witness memory |
| Associate Professor Rebecca Pinkus | Romantic relationships, emotion regulation, stigma |
| Associate Professor Celine van Golde | Gender-Based Violence (DFV/IPV/SV); memory, perception & interpretation |
| Dr Iana Wong | Emotion regulation; intimate partner violence, coercive control |
School of Health Sciences
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Professor James Elliott | Open-source; open-science; AI-deep learning; Terrestrial and Extra-Terrestrial Wellbeing |
| Dr Tim English | Heat; Health |
Faculty of Medicine and Health Centres and Institutes
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Siobhan O'Dean | Intimate partner violence; substance use; mental health; violence prevention; biostatistics |
| Dr Amy-Leigh Rowe | Adolescent intimate partner violence; co-design of school-based prevention programs; rigorous evaluation methods (RCTs); implementation/ translation |
School of Medicine
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Lauren Monds | Intoxication and cognitive impairment; substance use and consent; memory reliability in victims and witnesses; justice–health responses to substance-affected individuals |
| Dr Erica Martin | Intoxication and eyewitness memory; perceptions of intoxicated victims/witnesses; jury decision-making |
School of Pharmacy
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Professor Betty Chaar | Qualitative methods exploring professional ethics in pharmacy, policy and pharmacy practice |
| Dr Sarira El-Den | Mental health education; mental health care in primary care; pharmacy practice; perinatal mental healthcare |
Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Associate Professor Sophie Isobel | Trauma- and violence-informed approaches to practice |
School of Social and Political Sciences
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Associate Professor Anna Boucher | Migration; visa design; CALD; workplace sexual exploitation; trauma-informed policy |
Sydney School of Education and Social Work
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Sarah Ciftci | Child protection; child sexual abuse; out-of-home care; trauma-informed and culturally safe practice |
| Professor Amy Conley Wright | Child protection, out-of-home care, adoption, disability |
| Professor Susan Heward-Belle | Child sexual abuse & exploitation; fathering of perpetrators of DFV; dignity-based policy & practices |
School of Humanities
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Eleanor Cowan | Domestic and Family violence in the ancient Roman world; Latin historiography |
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Professor Judy Cashmore | Child abuse and child protection; procedural justice; criminal and family law; decision-making |
| Dr Rachel Killean | TFSV; conflict-related sexual violence; RJ |
| Associate Professor Ghena Krayem | DFSV; Family Law; lived experience research |
| Professor Arlie Loughnan | Criminal responsibility; defences; violence against women |
| Dr Lucy Quinn | IPV policy and law reform in international aid programming; legislative implementation |
| Professor Rita Shackel | Criminal & family law; socio-legal research; child abuse & protection; policy and law reform |
| Name | Research interests/expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Natalie Galea | Gender justice, gender-based violence & institutional change in male-dominated industries |
| Dr Farzana Aman Tanima | Accounting for economic abuse; intimate partner violence; feminism; dowry abuse |
| Associate Professor Meraiah Foley | Workplace gender equality; gender-based violence and respect; occupational gender segregation |
| Dr Suneha Seetahul | Gender inequalities in labour markets, health and social protection; gender norms; climate |
Professional staff from the University of Sydney who are interested in joining SYNC-DFSV are welcome to contact Associate Professor Helen Paterson or Dr Iana Wong.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mark Sandham | Program Director |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Ryan Askey | Program Manager |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Sharon Chung | Manager |
| Catriona Hoang | Case Officer |
| Rayila Maimaiti | Case Officer |
| Lucy Stirton | Team Leader |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Carmen Germain | Head |
For enquiries about SYNC-DFSV, please contact:
Associate Professor Helen Paterson: helen.paterson@sydney.edu.au
Dr Iana Wong: iana.wong@sydney.edu.au
If you have experienced or witnessed sexual harm or gender-based violence and would like support or information, please contact the University of Sydney’s Safer Communities Office on +61 2 8627 6808 or via email at safer-communities.officer@sydney.edu.au. The Safer Communities Office provides confidential support to current and former students, staff and affiliates.
