Prioritising Intersectoral Practice: Strategies and Innovations (The PIPSI Project): Workforce development in response to substance use and DFV
The PIPSI Project is a three-year action research initiative led by the Violence against Women and Children research team at the University of Melbourne, in partnership with the Centre for Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW). The project examines how specialist DFV services and non-specialist services respond to families affected by violence and substance use. It explores the workforce development needs required to support effective practice responses, how substance use coercion shapes the experiences of families, and how it influences professionals’ capacity to collaborate across sectors. The PIPSI Project also considers the broader implications for service delivery and policy reform.
The project includes three interrelated components:
- A national workforce mapping process that includes consultations with professionals and lived experience experts, alongside a survey to understand workforce capacity, training and support needs.
- The identification of innovative practices and the development of an evidence base to improve outcomes for families experiencing DFV and AOD-related harms.
- The establishment of a national Strategic Policy Group to support systems-level reform by facilitating cross-sector collaboration among senior policy and service leaders across Australia.
Researchers:
- Prof. Cathy Humphreys (University of Melbourne)
- Dr Margaret Kertesz (University of Melbourne)
- Dr Van Callaly (University of Melbourne)
Funders: Australian Research Council
Project dates: 2025-2028
Contact: Dr Margaret Kertesz
Email: mkertesz@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9035 8508