Sexual violence and abuse is a global public health concern that seriously impacts individuals, families and whole communities. The Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit (SVRPU) engages in ground-breaking research to understand this complex social phenomenon and enhance prevention and response.
Understand. Prevent. Respond.
We advocate for a comprehensive public health approach to combat sexual violence at multiple levels and reduce its extent and impacts. Through pioneering interdisciplinary research we contribute to conceptual and empirical innovations to advance current knowledge. This guides innovative and evidence-informed prevention and response strategies - a "knowing before doing" approach.
Real world impact and action
We lead research, consultation, co-design and evaluation activities that advance the development, and refinement, of primary, secondary prevention strategies and tertiary responses, across diverse settings.
Some examples include:
- Pioneering contextual prevention frameworks and strategies
- Co-design of community-led youth sexual violence and abuse prevention programs
- Co-design of a sexual offending treatment program for First Nations men
- Supporting the implementation of correctional programs and services
- Leading realist program evaluation in sexual violence prevention
- Understanding and improving response to females who sexually offend
- Preventing child sexual abuse material
- Enhancing child-safe organisational policy and practice
- Examining justice system responses to sexual offending
Knowledge translation with real-world impact is at the heart what we do. Explore our projects showing our work in action.
Collaboration and respect
We collaborate through industry partnerships, co-design and knowledge translation activities for real world outcomes. Sharing knowledge with industry and the broader community we strive to bridge the gap between research and practice. We are deeply committed to respectful, culturally safe research in partnership with First Nations Peoples and communities.
Watch
How do contextual prevention strategies prevent child sexual abuse?
- Recording of the symposium (YouTube)
- Contextual prevention: Going beyond individual prevention (PDF 1.6 MB) practice resource handout
- Download the symposium presentation notes (PDF 5.6 MB)
Sentencing of Sexual Assault and Rape: The Ripple Effect
Watch Associate Professor Nadine McKillop's presentation at the recent Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council forum
Contact us
Email: SVRPU@usc.edu.au
Office: Building D, Ground floor, School of Law and Society, UniSC Sunshine Coast