The Reducing Intergenerational Violence (RIV) Project
Tracks
Room 1: In-Person and Online
| Wednesday, November 26, 2025 |
| 8:55 AM - 9:15 AM |
Overview
Rebecca O'reilly & Maria Losurdo, ACU
Details
1.Importance of multi-agency collaboration in addressing intergenerational violence
2.Strength of community engagement in addressing intergenerational violence
3.Power in education to combat intergenerational violence
Speaker
Dr Rebecca O'Reilly
Associate Professor In Nursing; Deputy Head Of School
Acu
The Reducing Intergenerational Violence (RIV) Project
Presentation Overview
Intergenerational violence is the transmission of violent behaviours and experiences across generations¹. Children exposed to violence, such as domestic violence¹; child maltreatment² or peer aggression¹, are at increased risk of either perpetuating or experiencing violence themselves in school and later in life.
The RIV Project aims to prevent relationship violence among high schools’ students and in adulthood by equipping young people with the skills and confidence to build safe, respectful relationships and seek support when faced with unsafe situations. RIV also identifies and supports vulnerable young people and families. The RIV Project was created from community partnerships with NGO’s; schools, NAPCAN, Universities and Bendigo Bank Community Board.
Using Participatory Action Research, the RIV project brought together key stakeholders, including local service providers and support agencies; school communities, Aboriginal community members, academics, and funding partners. This collaborative effort was key to creating a holistic program that supports healthy relationships across schools, families and the broader community.
Data collection includes 2 surveys (pre- and post-intergenerational violence activities) and in-depth individual interviews.
The presentation will provide an overview of the RIV Projects foundation and its 10-year vision for sustained social change. Preliminary findings from the pre- survey will be shared.
The RIV Project is a first of its kind, groundbreaking, community driven grassroots initiative. Its collaborative, multi-agency model has fostered strong community ownership to enhance the programs reach and impact, laying the groundwork for a meaningful reduction in intergenerational violence.
¹Meinck, F., Woollett, N., Franchino-Olsen, H. et al. Interrupting the intergenerational cycle of violence: protocol for a three-generational longitudinal mixed-methods study in South Africa (INTERRUPT_VIOLENCE). BMC Public Health 23, 395 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15168-y
²Assink, M., Spruit, A., Schuts, M., Lindauer, R., van der Put, C.E & Stams, G.J.M. (2018). The intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment: A three-level meta-analysis, Child Abuse & Neglect, 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.037
The RIV Project aims to prevent relationship violence among high schools’ students and in adulthood by equipping young people with the skills and confidence to build safe, respectful relationships and seek support when faced with unsafe situations. RIV also identifies and supports vulnerable young people and families. The RIV Project was created from community partnerships with NGO’s; schools, NAPCAN, Universities and Bendigo Bank Community Board.
Using Participatory Action Research, the RIV project brought together key stakeholders, including local service providers and support agencies; school communities, Aboriginal community members, academics, and funding partners. This collaborative effort was key to creating a holistic program that supports healthy relationships across schools, families and the broader community.
Data collection includes 2 surveys (pre- and post-intergenerational violence activities) and in-depth individual interviews.
The presentation will provide an overview of the RIV Projects foundation and its 10-year vision for sustained social change. Preliminary findings from the pre- survey will be shared.
The RIV Project is a first of its kind, groundbreaking, community driven grassroots initiative. Its collaborative, multi-agency model has fostered strong community ownership to enhance the programs reach and impact, laying the groundwork for a meaningful reduction in intergenerational violence.
¹Meinck, F., Woollett, N., Franchino-Olsen, H. et al. Interrupting the intergenerational cycle of violence: protocol for a three-generational longitudinal mixed-methods study in South Africa (INTERRUPT_VIOLENCE). BMC Public Health 23, 395 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15168-y
²Assink, M., Spruit, A., Schuts, M., Lindauer, R., van der Put, C.E & Stams, G.J.M. (2018). The intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment: A three-level meta-analysis, Child Abuse & Neglect, 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.037
Biography
Rebecca O'Reilly is a Registered Nurse, Midwife, and Associate Professor with over 22 years of academic experience. She is currently a Deputy Head of School at Australian Catholic University. Her research focuses on women’s health, with a particular emphasis on partner and family violence. Rebecca has led and contributed to numerous research projects, both funded and non-funded, in the DV field. She supervises HDR students and collaborates with community organizations to address domestic and intergenerational violence. Rebecca is a key team member in the national Perinatal Interprofessional Psychosocial Education project, leading co-design on domestic violence education for maternal clinicians.
