Public webinar: Understanding Family and Domestic Violence: Trends and Issues
What does the latest evidence tell us about family and domestic violence in Australia? What is the scale of the problem, where are we making progress, and where is more work needed? What are the emerging issues, and what new information is available to help us address family violence?
Understanding the changing nature, prevalence and impacts of family violence is critical to informing effective prevention, early intervention, response and recovery efforts, and ultimately, to improving the safety of women and children.
Across Australia, services are working to support victim-survivors and address the use of family violence. Alongside this vital work, it’s important to consider the broader evidence: what we know, what is changing, and where gaps in our understanding and opportunities remain.
Drawing on Relationships Australia Victoria’s newly released Understanding Family and Domestic Violence Evidence Paper 2026, this free webinar will explore the latest available data, research and emerging trends, and what they mean for those working to prevent and respond to family violence.
We'll examine where progress is being made, where significant gaps remain, and take a closer look at issues explored in this year's paper for the first time: young people's use of violence, the 'manosphere', and grievance-fuelled violence.
The webinar is designed for professionals working across family violence prevention, early intervention, response and recovery, as well as those involved in research, policy development, advocacy, funding and reform, and anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of family violence in Australia. Together, we’ll consider what the latest evidence tells us about the national picture, and its implications for policy, practice and future investment.
Hosted by Relationships Australia with panellists from Relationships Australia Victoria, the webinar will include an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and explore the findings.
Event details
Date: Monday 23 November 2026
Time: 1-2pm AEDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Price: Free
Enquiries: communications@rav.org.au
About the presenters
Dr Genevieve Heard, Manager Research
Dr. Genevieve Heard has led multiple research projects at RAV, particularly relating to outcomes of post-separation dispute resolution services, and technology use in post-separation parenting. Gen’s earlier research concerned patterns of family formation and dissolution. She has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and edited Family Formation in 21st Century Australia (2015), and authors Relationships Australia Victoria’s annual family violence paper.
Alyson La’Brooy, Manager Family Violence Services
Alyson La’Brooy leads the strategic and operational direction of statewide family violence programs. With close to 20 years’ experience in the family violence sector, she has worked across frontline practice, high-risk family violence responses, service quality and statewide operational leadership. She has contributed to sector and system-level reform through involvement in peak body advisory groups and collaboration with government. Her work focuses on improving service delivery and strengthening responses for victim-survivors of family violence.