Background: Domestic and family violence (DFV) remains a pervasive issue in Australia, with far-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. The Australian Government recognises DFV as a “national crisis” and has committed significant funding in the 2024-25 federal budget towards addressing this pervasive issue. They have prioritised early intervention strategies that identify people at risk of perpetrating or experiencing DFV and disrupt the escalation of violence.

Methods: Drawing on the ANROWS Evidence Portal, this presentation will discuss the growing body of research on the nature and effectiveness of early intervention programs implemented across Australia. The ANROWS Evidence Portal is a living resource of interventions designed to address and end violence against women from Australia and other high-income countries. It comprises multiple complementary tools such as evidence and gap maps, world maps, an intervention finder, and intervention reviews.
Main findings: The interactive evidence and gap maps – that capture the breadth, nature and research gaps in knowledge of interventions – will be the focus of this presentation. We will discuss proactive approaches designed to identify DFV as early as possible, mitigate escalation and connect individuals to services. This presentation highlights preliminary findings by mapping the available evidence in early intervention in Australia. It covers the core aspects of these interventions, including the delivery settings, target populations, and considerations for implementation. Furthermore, we will discuss pertinent gaps in the evidence base and implications for future policy, practice and research.

Key Learnings:

1. A shared understanding of how the Evidence Portal captures and consolidates early intervention programs and initiatives.

2. An analysis of the state of evidence and learnings to date on early intervention in Australia, based on preliminary mapping findings.

3. An overview of ways that the Evidence Portal can support the uptake of evidence on early intervention for strategic decision-making in policy, practice, and knowledge production.

Background: Domestic and family violence (DFV) remains a pervasive issue in Australia, with far-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. The Australian Government recognises DFV as a “national crisis” and has committed significant funding in the 2024-25 federal budget towards addressing this pervasive issue. They have prioritised early intervention strategies that identify people at risk of perpetrating or experiencing DFV and disrupt the escalation of violence.

Methods: Drawing on the ANROWS Evidence Portal, this presentation will discuss the growing body of research on the nature and effectiveness of early intervention programs implemented across Australia. The ANROWS Evidence Portal is a living resource of interventions designed to address and end violence against women from Australia and other high-income countries. It comprises multiple complementary tools such as evidence and gap maps, world maps, an intervention finder, and intervention reviews.
Main findings: The interactive evidence and gap maps – that capture the breadth, nature and research gaps in knowledge of interventions – will be the focus of this presentation. We will discuss proactive approaches designed to identify DFV as early as possible, mitigate escalation and connect individuals to services. This presentation highlights preliminary findings by mapping the available evidence in early intervention in Australia. It covers the core aspects of these interventions, including the delivery settings, target populations, and considerations for implementation. Furthermore, we will discuss pertinent gaps in the evidence base and implications for future policy, practice and research.

Key Learnings:

1. A shared understanding of how the Evidence Portal captures and consolidates early intervention programs and initiatives.

2. An analysis of the state of evidence and learnings to date on early intervention in Australia, based on preliminary mapping findings.

3. An overview of ways that the Evidence Portal can support the uptake of evidence on early intervention for strategic decision-making in policy, practice, and knowledge production.