Double-edged effects: Is technology making family violence protections more accessible? 

Exploring the benefits and barriers experienced by victims/survivors of family violence in response to technological systems reform.

Past event
Jul 18, 2024
9:30 am
Jul 18, 2024
11:00 am
Thursday, July 18, 2024
-
11:00 am
Jul 18, 2024
Zoom
Watch the recording

At this Research Network event we heard from Tania McKenna, Northern Community Legal Centre, Dr Kate Hammond, Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, and Dr Hugh McDonald, Victoria Law Foundation. 

While technological advancements can deliver significant efficiencies across justice systems pathways and processes, this webinar explored new research highlighting how systems reform also has the potential to marginalise and exclude, particularly those members of the community who are often most in need of access to justice.  

In this webinar, Tania and Kate provided an overview of findings from recent research projects, which explored the benefits and barriers experienced by victims/survivors of family violence in response to technological systems reform across Victorian courts. 

The webinar aims to illuminate the voices of women, including migrant and refugee women, who have found justice systems inaccessible and/or obtained poorer legal outcomes due to technological reform. It highlights the importance of including community voices in the design of reforms and monitoring on-the-ground operation and impact. 

Hugh also joined us to discuss implications from the Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) and other research and why legal capability needs to be taken seriously in justice system design.

Host

Lynne Haultain
Executive Director
Victoria Law Foundation
Victoria Law Foundation

Participants

Tania McKenna 
Deputy CEO
Northern Community Legal Centre
Northern Community Legal Centre
Dr Kate Hammond 
Research Manager
Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights
Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights
Dr. Hugh M. McDonald
Research Director
Victoria Law Foundation
Victoria Law Foundation

Participant details

Tania McKenna 

Tania McKenna 

Tania McKenna is the Deputy CEO at Northern Community Legal Centre. 

Tania has worked in the legal assistance sector for over 25 years, primarily in the community legal and family violence sectors. Her work history has ranged from direct support and advocacy to designing, implementing, and evaluating complex community development projects and sector-wide reforms.  

Dr Kate Hammond 

Dr Kate Hammond 

Dr Kate Hammond is the Research Manager at the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights. 

Kate holds a PhD in Islamic Studies and researches across areas of gender, family violence, and barriers to Muslim women's equity in an Australian context. Kate also works in the University of Melbourne's Department of Social Work conducting family violence research. 

Dr. Hugh M. McDonald

Dr. Hugh M. McDonald

Research Director
Victoria Law Foundation

Studying legal need and capability from every angle, Hugh has worked on several landmark access to justice and legal needs projects. 

Previously at the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW for 15 years, Hugh joined Victoria Law Foundation in September 2019 as Principal Researcher, taking on the Research Director role in August 2024. He led the Foundation’s Data Mapping Project, a sustained examination of the use and utility of Victoria’s civil justice data and continues to work on the Public Understanding of Law Survey.

Throughout his career, Hugh has worked closely with legal aid commissions, community legal centres, and state and federal governments, giving him a deep understanding of legal institutions and access to justice issues throughout Australia.

Lynne Haultain

Lynne Haultain

Executive Director
Victoria Law Foundation

Lynne leads the Victoria Law Foundation team. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of communications, journalism and management.

For 16 years, she worked with ABC Radio, including a stint hosting The Law Report on Radio National. She has also worked at the ACCC, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Ombudsman and as a consultant. She has degrees in Law and English from the University of Western Australia and holds qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Community Directors Australia and has attended the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.

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Funding to help respond to legal need

Major Grants offer up to $100,000 for projects that help organisations better understand and respond to the civil legal needs and capabilities of Victorians.