From Research to Action: Introducing Resources to Prevent and Address Violence Against Women International Students

The University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University, and the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health have recently completed new research into women international students’ experiences of sexual and intimate partner violence (the INVEST project), funded by the Australian Research Council. The INVEST project involved a national online survey of over 1400 women international students and qualitative interviews with students and stakeholders. It was one of the first studies worldwide to focus on this important but neglected topic.

The INVEST project findings suggest that both sexual and intimate partner violence are common for women international students, with detrimental impacts on health and wellbeing. At the same time, students struggle to navigate a complex and unfamiliar service system in the face of structural inequalities.

With this in mind, we have developed a practice guide for a whole-of-community response to preventing and responding to sexual and intimate partner violence against women international students. The guide draws on the research findings to make recommendations for governments, tertiary institutions, and the broader community. We have also developed a suite of student-facing resources to support help-seeking. The ultimate goal is to enhance the safety and wellbeing of women international students.

In this webinar co-hosted with ISANA, the project team will introduce the practice guide and student resources and how to use them in enhancing responses to sexual and intimate partner violence against women international students.

Presenters:

Invest Project Team Members

  • Ly Tran
    Ly is a Professor in the School of Education and Research for Educational Impact (REDI) centre, Deakin University. Her research focuses on international education, student mobilities, international students, graduate employability, the education-work-migration nexus and government policies. Ly received the IEAA’s Excellence Award for Innovation/Best Practice in International Education and the Inaugural Melbourne Asia Game Changer Award for her work in international education.     
  • Dr Mandy McKenzie
    Mandy is a research fellow in the Sexual Abuse and Family Violence (SAFE) team at the Department of General Practice & Primary Care. She specialises in qualitative research on intimate partner violence and sexual violence. Her research draws on 20 years of experience working for Victorian domestic violence, sexual assault and women’s health services. Her current research projects at the University explore help-seeking and recovery after intimate partner/sexual violence    . 
  • Professor Laura Tarzia
    Laura co-leads the Sexual and Family Violence research program based at the Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne. She is also Director of the RESTORE Centre of Research Excellence, which is focused on transforming health systems to promote healing and recovery after sexual violence. Her work draws on the voices of victim/survivors to increase understanding about the context and dynamics of sexual and reproductive violence and how we can use these insights to strengthen trauma-informed responses in health settings and the community.      

Date & Time

  • Monday, 23 June 2025
  • 1pm – 2pm (AEST)

Cost

  • No cost

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