Youth intimate partner violence (IPV) is an underexplored but emerging area of inquiry in Australia. This presentation draws upon current PhD Candidature research undertaken in Victoria, that examines young women’s experiences of intimate partner violence. This research uses qualitative and creative methods to support the young women participants in sharing their experiences on their own terms.

With a focus on moving beyond the risk-prevention paradigm, this presentation will examine the findings of research into the attitudes and strategies used by young women in resisting, recovering and healing from IPV. This presentation will discuss the resistance strategies used by young women to ‘fight back’, cope and survive the abuse in their relationships. This presentation will also share findings into the actions that the young women undertook to recover and heal after the relationship ended. This includes factors that contributed to their moments of change, their symbolic acts of freedom and what the young women felt assisted to “build yourself back up again”.

Sharing research findings, advice from young women and examples of the creative outputs generated during the research, this presentation highlights the value of targeted support and intervention at different points in the young women’s IPV journeys.