BCEC researcher to lead Curtin arm of new $35-million ARC Centre of Excellence to eliminate violence against women

A new $35-million ARC Centre of Excellence that aims to create evidence-based solutions to violence against women in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region will have a node at Curtin University through the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.

Associate Professor Astghik Mavisakalyan, Principal Research Fellow with Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, is one of 14 chief investigators across eight Australian universities announced on the project.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW) has been established to transform understanding of violence against women by examining the structural drivers that cause and compound violence against women.

CEVAW will also pioneer new evidence-based approaches to improve policy and practice.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to drive social change in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region through our research,” Associate Professor Mavisakalyan said.

“Our team is committed to undertaking fundamental multidisciplinary research to generate new knowledge on causes, contexts and responses to violence against women with an Indigenous-centred approach.”

As a chief investigator, Associate Professor Mavisakalyan will convene Curtin University’s node, leading a research program on the causal role that institutions play in prevalence and prevention of violence against women, and the Centre’s evidence platform working group.

There are also 17 partner investigators and 32 partner organisations including government agencies, international organisations, peak bodies, community, and Indigenous organisations.

Professor Alan Duncan, Director of Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, said the scale of the project emphasises the importance of and urgency for finding solutions to end violence against women.

“We’ve long known that violence against women, not just in Australia, but globally, is a significant social issue that needs deep investigation if we are to eliminate it,” Professor Duncan said.

“Our awareness of the issue has grown rapidly, but we still don’t have many evidence-based solutions to eliminate it.

“Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre is proud to be involved in this significant new Centre – especially given its alignment with our existing research program in gender equality.”

The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is hosted by: Monash University, The University of Melbourne, Griffith University, Macquarie University, The University of New South Wales, Curtin University, The Australian National University, and Flinders University.

To find out more about the Centre, click here.