These sessions cover topics of sexual violence and family violence that may be difficult or distressing - please take care.
Evidence to Practice Sessions are a series of conversations that bridge the gap between research and practical application. Each session features a concise 15-minute presentation on the latest research, followed by a 30-minute discussion on the practical implications of the work, with an expert from our Business Unit.
Following the presentation and discussion, this format allows for Q&A which ensures that the sessions are not only informative but also highly relevant to real-world practice.
The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention brings government agencies together to align whole-of-government strategy, policy and investment to eliminate family violence and sexual violence. Individual agencies are responsible for delivering and funding family violence and sexual violence services, programmes, and prevention initiatives.
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn for our next Evidence to Practice Session.
Previous Sessions
This Evidence to Practice Session discussed how the digital world is shaping the sexual lives of young people in Aotearoa. Following a report commissioned by ACC, this seminar reveals the findings on harmful content, grooming, and sextortion, and shows how online material is reshaping attitudes, behaviours, and wellbeing. With international insights and practical recommendations, we’ll explore why urgent, coordinated action is needed to keep children safe in the digital age - and how current inaction leaves New Zealand falling short of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Jo Robertson is a sex therapist with a Master of Science in Medicine, specialising in sexuality, relationships, and the cultural influences shaping sexual norms. Her dissertation focused on online sexual content and its impacts on adolescents. She has over 15 years’ experience in health, education, and counselling. Jo has worked as a child and youth trauma counsellor and has provided training to professionals, parents, and young people on navigating online sexual experiences. She has delivered a TEDx talk, speaks internationally on intimacy, parenting, and sexual culture, and most recently developed Tricky Chats; an evidence-based parenting course for guiding young peoples sexual health, safety and device use.
Holly Jean Brooker is a child online safety advocate, experienced educator, communicator, and PR & media specialist. Holly works with government, industry, and community groups to push for systemic change in online safety regulation and greater accountability from technology platforms. With a background in high school teaching, over 15 years in comms, PR, and parenting education, Holly has developed and delivered educational resources, workshops, and media campaigns to parents, educators, and policymakers. She believes education is most powerful when paired with effective public policy. Currently completing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Auckland, Holly also holds a BA.
Rory Birkbeck is Co-Founder and CEO of the New Zealand company Safe Surfer. He is a tech innovator and father of two who has dedicated nearly a decade to developing cutting-edge solutions for child safety online with his team. Safe Surfer under Rory's leadership is used in 120+ countries around the world by hundreds of thousands of families. Rory developed a global first partnership with Samsung in 2024 to create a Kid-Safe Smartphone. A phone that comes out of the box comes with calls, texts and only a few other basic apps. No app store or web browser. It connects to the Safe Surfer dashboard where different restriction profiles can be applied. He published a kids book called Keeping Safe on the Web with Kyle the Kingfish in 2018 aimed at primary school students.
Evidence to Practice Session | Primary Prevention of Violence with LGBTIQA+ CommunitiesThis Evidence to Practice Session focused on primary prevention in LGBTQIA+ communities. This session will discussed the rapidly growing evidence base for prevention of family, domestic and sexual violence experienced by LGBTIQA+ communities, and the implications for policy and practice. Marina Carman is the Executive Director for Prevention, Advocacy and Social Change at Safe and Equal – Victoria Australia's family violence peak body. In her previous role as Director of Rainbow Health Australia, she led the development of the Pride in Prevention suite of resources, and has authored a wide range of academic publications, reports, resources and practice guides on prevention of violence against LGBTIQA+ people. https://rainbowhealthaustralia.org.auClick here for the presentation slides
This Evidence to Practice Session was from the National Mortality Review Committee (Formerly the FVDRC) report on femicide in Aotearoa New Zealand. This session explored key findings from the report, which examines deaths resulting from gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, maternal suicide, and perinatal mortality. The presentation highlights inequities experienced by wāhine and kōtiro Māori, emergent issues such as technology-facilitated abuse and repeated brain injury, and gaps in data collection that hinder accurate reporting. The session also covers recommendations aligned with New Zealand’s obligations under CEDAW and collaborative strategies for prevention and response.
Kiri Matiatos is the Principal Advisor for family violence mortality review at Te Tāhū Hauora | Health Quality & Safety Commission. She supports the family violence subject matter experts by leading in-depth reviews of death events, coordinating their programme of work, and leading the socialisation and uptake of recommendations that have been produced. Kiri previously worked in the health sector for over 20 years, as a nurse and nurse educator in acute care and family violence settings.
Dr Nicola Atwool is the Chair of the Family Violence Subject Matter Expert group (previously FVDRC), conducting specialist family violence mortality review work, and producing related publications and recommendations on behalf of the National Mortality Review Committee. Nicola worked as a social work practitioner and academic for nearly 50 years before her retirement from the University of Otago at the end of 2022. She is currently an independent contractor providing supervision training and consultation.
This session discussed conduct problems in early and mid-childhood, which can have significant impact for children and their relatives. A relevant factor for the development of conduct problems can be exposure to aggression in the home. Based on the Growing Up in New Zealand Study, the research team investigated the development of conduct problems from age 2 until 8 in the context of intimate partner aggression. The results provide insights for some potential action points for people working with children and their relatives.
Dr Hedwig Eisenbarth did her PhD in Psychology as well as her clinical training in CBT at the University of Würzburg (Germany). She joined Victoria University of Wellington in 2018 where she is now Associate Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences. Her lab investigates how emotional reactions, past emotional experiences and personality traits like psychopathy shape social interactions, using psychophysiological methods and behavioural tasks in order to understand these processes in the antisocial context but also in every-day life.
Evidence to Practice Session | The impact of intimate partner aggression in the household for the development of conduct problems in early and mid-childhood
The first Evidence to Practice Session of 2025 discussed evidence from Australia on screening for domestic family violence (DFV) perpetration among male service users, including opportunities for risk assessment and referral pathways. Following substantial domestic and family violence reforms in Australia, the identification of victim-survivors is increasingly embedded across service system responses. Comparatively, while men using DFV often have contact with many services, their use of DFV is often not identified. Drawing on findings from a mixed-methods study with practitioners across mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD), corrections and child protection services, this presentation explores barriers to and enablers of screening for DFV perpetration, conducting risk assessments and creating referral pathways for shared risk management.
Professor Silke Meyer is the Leneen Forde Chair in Child & Family Research and a Professor of Social Work at Griffith University.She is a criminologist and social worker by training, bringing practical and theoretical expertise to her research, teaching and writing. Her research centres on different aspects of domestic and family violence, including women and children’s safety and wellbeing, men’s accountability in their role as perpetrators and fathers, experiences specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the role of domestic and family violence-informed practice in child protection, healthcare, policing and court related service delivery. Silke regularly delivers training on domestic and family violence informed practice to police, magistrates, family law and healthcare practitioners.
Evidence to Practice Session | Screening and identifying family violence risk from people using violence Unlisted
Kathryn, TP, and Brian talked through key themes from their research with men in Aotearoa New Zealand, including men who currently and formerly used violence. The researchers discussed elements of these men’s mindsets and share what they have learned about the environments and conditions that support or hinder men’s change.
This is part of a body of research which includes the ‘Man Rules of New Zealand’, ‘Understanding the Support Needs of Users of Violence’, an ongoing longitudinal study, and development research for the ‘In Your Hands’ web portal In Your Hands. As a whole, the research the position and the perspectives of men with harmful behaviours, those who are often unwilling, unable, or feeling powerless to change. The research has informed Change is Possible, the latest phase of the Campaign for Action on Family Violence, which seeks to mobilise men around change journeys and create environments that support men’s change. Change Is Possible.
Evidence to Practice Session | Men's Journey of Change
This discussion was about the recent review of Family Violence Death Review (FVDR) data relating to stalking. The review looked at stalking within the context of the intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN) homicides reviewed by the Committee between January 2020 and June 2024. The research presented in this session provides compound narratives of stalking, key themes from the evidence, and some reflective questions for people to use in practice settings.
Presentation by Principal Advisor Kiri Matiatos for family violence mortality review at Te Tāhū Hauora, discussion with Dr Nicola Atwool from the Family Violence Subject Matter Expert Group (formerly FVDRC) and Mary Beresford-Jones from Te Puna Aonui Business Unit.
Evidence to Practice | Data relating to Stalking - Family Violence Death Review
This session discussed policy and practice insights from the recent HRC funded study ‘Atawhai’. This research aimed to make it easier to respond to family violence in primary care settings. Developed by providers, the ‘Atawhai Network’ builds trusted quality relationships between health care and family violence agencies to support safe responses to whānau and families.
Presentation by Dr Claire Gear, Hazel Hape, Gabrielle Moss from Atawhai, and Adrienne Everest from Te Puna Aonui Business Unit.
Evidence to Practice | Atawhai - Responding to family violence in Primary Care | Te Puna Aonui
This session was with Professor Michael Salter, who is the Director of Childlight University of NSW, the Australasian hub of Childlight. This work is part of the Global Child Safety Institute, which undertakes research for impact on child sexual abuse and exploitation. Professor Salter conducts national and international research on child sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and complex trauma.
Evidence to Practice Session | Professor Michael Salter
