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University of Sydney research students are exploring interdisciplinary strategies and analysis to come up with more effective ways to address the complex and persistent issue of domestic, family and sexual violence.
A quarter of all women and 1 in 8 men in NSW have experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member since the age of 15, according to the analysis by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Aboriginal women are eight times more likely to be the victim of domestic violence, and about 30 percent of domestic assault incidents fail to result in legal action.
Master of Philosophy student Corey Wolven from the Faculty of Science is combining insights from his professional background, working first-hand to support victims of domestic violence, to inform his research.
“I started my research mid-2025, just after I finished my law degree. But I have been working in criminal prosecutions since 2016, and more broadly in domestic violence responding, since 2009,” Corey says.
His research sits at the intersection of Psychology and Law, examining repeated event memory challenges in intimate partner violence cases. Building on real-world statistics, his work aims to strengthen the ecological validity of existing domestic violence research.
Corey argues that collaboration across disciplines and sectors is essential to address domestic, family and sexual violence effectively.
“Nothing happens in isolation – there is no single factor that causes or has created the scourge of domestic violence in our society. Likewise, there is no single discipline or area that can explain, or solve, the problem,” he says.
“Throughout my time prosecuting I've overseen thousands of cases and spoken to hundreds of survivors. The real insight you draw from that sort of exposure is the knowledge of the systemic issues and patterns. You gain an appreciation for the need for a broad response to the problem, as well as the extent of the problem itself. You see why legal proof is so discordant with believing, and accepting, the abuse that many people go through.”
Bridget, a PhD candidate in Theatre and Performance Studies from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, also sees interdisciplinary collaboration as vital.
“One of the most difficult challenges with overcoming gender-based and domestic violence in the Australian context right now is how ingrained it is in our systems and structures of power,” Bridget says.
“Further, when we struggle to uphold or introduce policies to protect vulnerable people in these situations, we reinforce the idea that leaving is a choice one simply needs to make, and not systemically taxing on people who are financially, psychologically and/or physically abused.”
Bridget's research examines how cultural narratives shape public understanding of domestic violence and the challenges faced by victim-survivors. She argues that while policy reform is crucial, addressing deeply embedded social attitudes requires contributions from across disciplines, including the arts.
"This is where I believe an interdisciplinary approach is needed. While government policy has a lot to answer for in protecting vulnerable people, we fundamentally need to challenge and change deeply problematic cultural beliefs and perceptions about victims of gender-based and domestic violence."
"This is something the arts can be part of. My research champions the idea that the arts can contribute to these conversations, attempting to challenge people’s attitudes towards victims, and ideally, shift the needle in terms of broader Australian culture having a clearer sense of the issues at play in these types of violent cycles."
For Bridget, theatre is the perfect vehicle for this kind of challenge.
“The arts more broadly have always had the power to evoke powerful emotions in audiences, whether it’s in drawing people to tears, shock or awe."
She points to works such as Angus Cerini’s The Bleeding Tree and Fleur Murphy’s The Fence as examples of Australian theatre engaging with these issues.
"My research positions theatre as one piece of the puzzle. But historically, it has been a large part of cultural practice. Whether we think of the Ancient Greeks, or Shakespeare, these works of theatre shift the needle on cultural practice. They also shape how we understand the past, how societies functioned, how violence was treated."
Join Corey and Bridget at a special event on 10 September to hear students and scholars explore how cross-disciplinary collaboration can help address complex real-world challenges. Using domestic, family and sexual violence as a case study, this interactive event will examine how researchers from different fields can work together to create meaningful social impact.
Experts such as Professor Susan Heward-Belle, Associate Professor Helen Paterson and others will share their insights, while a discussion panel will feature higher degree by research students whose research brings distinct perspectives to this critical issue.
Register now to attend the event: Tackling domestic violence through multidisciplinary approaches: The What and the How.
The University of Sydney is committed to supporting students affected by domestic, family and sexual violence. If you experience violence domestic, family and sexual violence, we can provide support and help you report the incident if you want to. Access help and support services, or contact the University of Sydney Safer Communities Office.