NZFVC: Reliable info about family, whānau and sexual violence

Initiative type:
Service
Sector:
Social policy
Website:
UniServices Contact:

Opportunity

Aotearoa New Zealand has high rates of family and sexual violence, affecting thousands of people, families, whānau and communities.

Aotearoa’s National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence, Te Aorerekura, identifies six changes required to eliminate violence, including workforces that have the capacity and capability to safely respond, support healing and prevention and enable wellbeing.

With increasing awareness and understanding of violence and its harms, the workforce addressing violence has grown significantly. This workforce needs access to the best and latest information, evidence and practice to guide their work, with knowledge that is unique to Aotearoa. Providing this knowledge and information is the core function of the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse (NZFVC).

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Making sense of the research on family violence

NZFVC, hosted by UniServices, is the national centre for family, whānau and sexual violence research and information. Its vision is to ensure families, whānau and relationships are healthy, respectful and free from violence. Its purpose is to provide access to high-quality research and information on family, whānau and sexual violence.

NZFVC was launched in 2005 in association with Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy. Te Rito was developed in 2002 as a plan of action to reduce and eliminate family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“People who were sitting in universities and government could see that there was research that wasn't making its way into policy and practice,” said Sheryl Hann, NZFVC’s former outreach coordinator, at tenth anniversary events in 2015.

The NZFVC has been hosted by the University of Auckland since 2011, initially led by associate professors Janet Fanslow and Robyn Dixon.

In 2021, the Clearinghouse moved to having Māori and tauiwi academic co-directors and Māori and tauiwi advisory groups. In 2023, it recruited a Kaupapa Māori research lead to grow commitment to Te Tiriti and increase the sharing and promotion of mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori approaches.

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Charlotte Moore, Terry Dobbs and Nicola Gavey
charlotte moore
“We’re proud to play a part in connecting government, tangata whenua, services, communities, researchers, media and others working to end family, whānau and sexual violence.”
Dr Charlotte Moore,
NZFVC Kaiwhakahaere (manager)
“How Western and Māori knowledge systems, as well as practice-informed evidence, can inform our understanding of violence prevention will be a key focus for the NZFVC as we move forwards.”
Dr Terry Dobbs and Professor Nicola Gavey

“How Western and Māori knowledge systems, as well as practice-informed evidence, can inform our understanding of violence prevention will be a key focus for the NZFVC as we move forwards,” said current academic co-directors Dr Terry Dobbs (Ngāpuhi; Te Rarawa) and Professor Nicola Gavey in a joint statement.

The NZFVC also puts strong emphasis on information for and about Pacific peoples, migrant communities, disabled people, the Rainbow community and older people.

Performance

NZFVC provides services for policymakers, service providers, researchers, students, media, people affected by violence and the general public. It does this through its website, which has 10,000 monthly users; a monthly newsletter with nearly 6,000 subscribers; as well as through reports, research articles and events such as webinars.

NZFVC logo

It also provides access to a library that includes over 2,000 books, reports, multimedia and other resources. An information specialist provides personalised help finding the latest information, including statistics, resources, research and evaluations in response to specific queries.

“Effectively addressing intimate partner violence and child abuse requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach,” said Dr Charlotte Moore (Rangitāne o Wairau/Pākehā), NZFVC’s kaiwhakahaere (manager). “We’re proud to play a part in connecting government, tangata whenua, services, communities, researchers, media and others working to end family, whānau and sexual violence.”

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