The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will host a two-day symposium to promote a collaborative approach to developing more effective responses to domestic violence by way of sharing both knowledge and practice, and encourage integrated service delivery.

Dame Quentin Bryce, Commissioner Bob Atkinson, judges, lawyers, and academics will take part in a two day Domestic and Family Violence Symposium: At the Intersection of Knowledge and Practice at USQ Toowoomba on May 17 and 18. In line with the theme, the symposium will feature a diverse range of presentations from distinguished guests, criminal justice representatives, legal practitioners, victims’ services, and emergency services, as well as an ex-perpetrator of domestic violence and a domestic violence survivor.

Symposium coordinators Suzanne Reich, Kathy Reeves and India Bryce, lecturers from USQ’s School of Law and Justice, said the knowledge sharing event generated from a report led by Dame Quentin Bryce Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland. “There was a major emphasis on the need for collaboration between the various stakeholders involved in the response to domestic and family violence,” Ms Reich said. “The purpose of this event is to respond to those recommendations and provide an opportunity for collaboration between domestic violence service providers, response personnel, researchers and interested community members.

Keynote speakers include Judge Ian Dearden, Magistrate Barbara Tynan, Professor Chris Goddard (University of South Australia), Dr Silke Meyer (Central Queensland University), Dr Wayne Petherick (Bond University) and Jerry Retford & Melinda Arnold (Films 4 Change).

Further information can be found, and registrations for the even can be made, here.

Readers also enjoyed our story about USQ Brazilian Education Delegation.