Family violence is a problem often hidden in plain sight. Making the justice system safer for victim-survivors remains a priority for all courts and tribunals.
At this cross-jurisdictional event, acclaimed journalist, author and educator Jess Hill, one of Australia's most respected voices on gendered violence, will shine a light on the nature and complex dynamics of family violence.
Dr Siobhan Lawler, a member of the research team that completed the Pathways to intimate partner homicide project, and Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, co-author of the recent Securing women’s lives report, will present the findings of their respective research and discuss the points of intervention available to disrupt the trajectories of high-risk perpetrators. Dr Brian Sullivan, CEO of the Red Rose Foundation and experienced practitioner, academic and educator, will cover working with men who commit family violence and how judicial officers can avoid collusive language in the courtroom.
Under the guidance of experienced judicial officers, attendees will also develop skills to identify, assess and manage family violence risks using the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) framework as a courtroom tool.
Speakers.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Sarah Leighfield
Judge Sarah Leighfield was appointed to the County Court in June 2020. Prior to her appointment she had worked as a solicitor advocate in criminal law at Galbally and O’Bryan before signing the bar roll in 2004. Her work at the bar was predominantly in criminal law, with an occasional foray into quasi-crime matters. In 2016, she was appointed as a magistrate, and spent much of her time in that role as a country magistrate working in the Loddon-Mallee region.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Sarah Leighfield
Judge Sarah Leighfield was appointed to the County Court in June 2020. Prior to her appointment she had worked as a solicitor advocate in criminal law at Galbally and O’Bryan before signing the bar roll in 2004. Her work at the bar was predominantly in criminal law, with an occasional foray into quasi-crime matters. In 2016, she was appointed as a magistrate, and spent much of her time in that role as a country magistrate working in the Loddon-Mallee region.
Journalist, author and speaker
Jess Hill
Named 2023 Changemaker of the Year by Marie Claire, Jess Hill is a journalist, author and educator who has achieved global renown for her groundbreaking work on gendered violence. Her journalism in this area has won two Walkley awards, an Amnesty International award and three Our Watch awards. Her first book See What You Made Me Do became a bestseller and was awarded the 2020 Stella Prize and the ABA Booksellers Choice non-fiction book of the year. It has been translated into five languages and is ranked the highest-rated book by any Australian author by readers on Goodreads.
In 2021, Jess presented a three-part television series adaptation of her book for SBS, which became the network’s highest-rating factual program. Since then, she has written a Quarterly Essay on how #MeToo is changing Australia, made a podcast series on coercive control titled The Trap, and a three-part series on consent called Asking For It. In her work as an advocate, Jess has made hundreds of media appearances and has fronted more than 350 events across the country, delivering education on coercive control. In 2024, she was the recipient of the NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence award.
Journalist, author and speaker
Jess Hill
Named 2023 Changemaker of the Year by Marie Claire, Jess Hill is a journalist, author and educator who has achieved global renown for her groundbreaking work on gendered violence. Her journalism in this area has won two Walkley awards, an Amnesty International award and three Our Watch awards. Her first book See What You Made Me Do became a bestseller and was awarded the 2020 Stella Prize and the ABA Booksellers Choice non-fiction book of the year. It has been translated into five languages and is ranked the highest-rated book by any Australian author by readers on Goodreads.
In 2021, Jess presented a three-part television series adaptation of her book for SBS, which became the network’s highest-rating factual program. Since then, she has written a Quarterly Essay on how #MeToo is changing Australia, made a podcast series on coercive control titled The Trap, and a three-part series on consent called Asking For It. In her work as an advocate, Jess has made hundreds of media appearances and has fronted more than 350 events across the country, delivering education on coercive control. In 2024, she was the recipient of the NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence award.
Australian Institute of Criminology
Dr Siobhan Lawler
Dr Siobhan Lawler is a Senior Research Analyst at the Australian Institute of Criminology. Dr Lawler holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Criminology (Honours) from the University of New South Wales. Her areas of expertise include domestic, family and sexual violence, violence prevention and evaluation of government, community and school-based research programs. Dr Lawler was part of the Australian Institute of Criminology research team that completed the ‘Pathways to intimate partner homicide’ project examining the trajectories of male intimate partner homicide offenders.
Australian Institute of Criminology
Dr Siobhan Lawler
Dr Siobhan Lawler is a Senior Research Analyst at the Australian Institute of Criminology. Dr Lawler holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Criminology (Honours) from the University of New South Wales. Her areas of expertise include domestic, family and sexual violence, violence prevention and evaluation of government, community and school-based research programs. Dr Lawler was part of the Australian Institute of Criminology research team that completed the ‘Pathways to intimate partner homicide’ project examining the trajectories of male intimate partner homicide offenders.
Red Rose Foundation and Sicura Domestic Violence Intervention and Training
Dr Brian Sullivan
Brian is the CEO of the Red Rose Foundation and Founder of Sicura Domestic Violence Intervention Education and Training. He has delivered training to judges, magistrates, registrars, and practitioners on understanding domestic violence perpetrators, and worked with communities organising collaborative community responses to domestic violence. Brian completed his doctorate in counselling and mental health at the College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, Ohio in 2000 where he researched readiness for change of court-mandated male perpetrators of domestic violence. While studying for his doctorate, Brian also trained in the Duluth Model of Domestic Violence intervention and worked intensively with court ordered men in Ohio.
Brian has been Head of Course and Senior Lecturer at CQ University in the Domestic and Family Violence Practice Program and has served as a member of advisory committees for the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Queensland Police Service. Brian is a member of the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board, Department of Justice and Attorney-General in Queensland. Until recently, Brian worked as the Practice Manager of the Responsible Men Program, and supervised facilitators of the men’s program, women’s counsellors, and women’s advocates in the Domestic and Family Violence Program.
Red Rose Foundation and Sicura Domestic Violence Intervention and Training
Dr Brian Sullivan
Brian is the CEO of the Red Rose Foundation and Founder of Sicura Domestic Violence Intervention Education and Training. He has delivered training to judges, magistrates, registrars, and practitioners on understanding domestic violence perpetrators, and worked with communities organising collaborative community responses to domestic violence. Brian completed his doctorate in counselling and mental health at the College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, Ohio in 2000 where he researched readiness for change of court-mandated male perpetrators of domestic violence. While studying for his doctorate, Brian also trained in the Duluth Model of Domestic Violence intervention and worked intensively with court ordered men in Ohio.
Brian has been Head of Course and Senior Lecturer at CQ University in the Domestic and Family Violence Practice Program and has served as a member of advisory committees for the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Queensland Police Service. Brian is a member of the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board, Department of Justice and Attorney-General in Queensland. Until recently, Brian worked as the Practice Manager of the Responsible Men Program, and supervised facilitators of the men’s program, women’s counsellors, and women’s advocates in the Domestic and Family Violence Program.