'No More Lives Lost: Understanding the causes of homicide from domestic abuse and familicide to best establish tertiary prevention strategies in keeping women and their children safe'
Tracks
Monarch Room - In Person
| Wednesday, November 30, 2022 |
| 12:25 PM - 12:45 PM |
Overview
Dr Jane Hasler, PhD Sociology
Speaker
Dr Jane Hasler
PhD Sociology
University of Sydney Alumni
'No More Lives Lost: Understanding the causes of homicide from domestic abuse and familicide to best establish tertiary prevention strategies in keeping women and their children safe'
Abstract
Deaths from domestic abuse have not reduced during the 12 year 'National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children' which ended in 2021.
In fact, evidence has found that domestic and family abuse have increased during this period.
In order to save lives, the shortfalls of this initiative, which include a lack of targets and clear solutions, need to be identified as another plan, this one lasting ten years, begins.
The three main elements of the previous 12 year National Plan were primary prevention (stopping domestic abuse before it starts through education around gender expectations and gender equality), secondary prevention (reducing abuse and preventing it escalating through mainly men's programs) and tertiary prevention (minimising the impact of violence and restoring health and safety through a number of community and justice measures).
Whilst long-term primary prevention strategies were implemented during this 12 year period, largely through the organisation 'Our Watch' based in Victoria, along with effective secondary prevention strategies, the approach to tertiary prevention was significantly limited by clearly lacking safeguards. This latter approach is paramount in keeping women and children safe, particularly when they are at the highest risk of losing their lives, as was the case in 2020 with the familicide of Hannah Clarke and her children,
Understanding the causes of homicide from domestic abuse and familicide is imperative in implementing effective tertiary prevention strategies around this abuse, one being keeping women and their children safe in accommodation which is kept unknown to their estranged partner for a period, such as the service provided by Safe Haven Community.
Terms that include 'monster' and 'evil' to describe perpetrators of these murders, which place their actions outside that which is human, along with the term, 'Master Manipulator', being used recently by the Queensland coroner as the main term to describe the perpetrator of the familicide of Hannah Clarke and her children, are all unhelpful in establishing these strategies.
However, contributing factors to homicide from domestic abuse and familicide, experienced by the perpetrator, need to be recognised as such by our justice and family systems, and our wider community, to best keep women and their children safe. Some of these factors include, a sense of shame, humiliated anger or rage, a recent separation, coercively controlling behaviour, a dysfunctional childhood, financial hardship and depression.
This presentation will outline the importance of forming targets and implementing effective primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies in ending domestic abuse. However, it will focus primarily on the causes of familicide and homicide from this abuse, and will outline the most effective tertiary prevention strategies that will help prevent further harm and save lives.
A main target we need to aim for in keeping women and children safe is, 'No More Lives are Lost'.
In fact, evidence has found that domestic and family abuse have increased during this period.
In order to save lives, the shortfalls of this initiative, which include a lack of targets and clear solutions, need to be identified as another plan, this one lasting ten years, begins.
The three main elements of the previous 12 year National Plan were primary prevention (stopping domestic abuse before it starts through education around gender expectations and gender equality), secondary prevention (reducing abuse and preventing it escalating through mainly men's programs) and tertiary prevention (minimising the impact of violence and restoring health and safety through a number of community and justice measures).
Whilst long-term primary prevention strategies were implemented during this 12 year period, largely through the organisation 'Our Watch' based in Victoria, along with effective secondary prevention strategies, the approach to tertiary prevention was significantly limited by clearly lacking safeguards. This latter approach is paramount in keeping women and children safe, particularly when they are at the highest risk of losing their lives, as was the case in 2020 with the familicide of Hannah Clarke and her children,
Understanding the causes of homicide from domestic abuse and familicide is imperative in implementing effective tertiary prevention strategies around this abuse, one being keeping women and their children safe in accommodation which is kept unknown to their estranged partner for a period, such as the service provided by Safe Haven Community.
Terms that include 'monster' and 'evil' to describe perpetrators of these murders, which place their actions outside that which is human, along with the term, 'Master Manipulator', being used recently by the Queensland coroner as the main term to describe the perpetrator of the familicide of Hannah Clarke and her children, are all unhelpful in establishing these strategies.
However, contributing factors to homicide from domestic abuse and familicide, experienced by the perpetrator, need to be recognised as such by our justice and family systems, and our wider community, to best keep women and their children safe. Some of these factors include, a sense of shame, humiliated anger or rage, a recent separation, coercively controlling behaviour, a dysfunctional childhood, financial hardship and depression.
This presentation will outline the importance of forming targets and implementing effective primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies in ending domestic abuse. However, it will focus primarily on the causes of familicide and homicide from this abuse, and will outline the most effective tertiary prevention strategies that will help prevent further harm and save lives.
A main target we need to aim for in keeping women and children safe is, 'No More Lives are Lost'.
Biography
Dr. Jane Hasler was awarded her PhD in Sociology from the University of Sydney in 2010. Since then she has taught within Social Sciences at universities in Sydney and Brisbane. Prior to her academic career, Jane worked as a Nurse Educator, then Mental Health professional for 12 years. She is currently speaking, writing and researching to address and prevent a range of social issues, three main ones being domestic abuse, suicide and bullying. Jane is the host and producer of the podcast, 'We Need To Talk', which involves discussions with experts on numerous social issues and is underpinned by the adage, 'Knowledge is Power'. She is a NSW ambassador for Safe Haven Community and is a member of: Suicide Prevention Australia, the Voice From The Heart Alliance, and the Australian Republic Movement. Jane lives in Sydney with her husband and the youngest of their eight children.
