DISRUPTIVE BODIES
Interrogating the Gender Binary in Family Violence Policy and Practice
This research project is supported by the Commonwealth through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship [DOI: https://doi.org/10.82133/C42F-K220]
ABOUT THE STUDY
Despite the growing evidence base on LGBTQIA+ people’s experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV), there has been comparatively little focus on experiences of formal service provision, nor exploration of how differences in gender and sexuality might impact service experiences and support needs. Specifically, very few studies have focused explicitly on the experiences of non-binary people, an evidence gap that is compounded by the fact that most services are segregated by binary gender, resulting in a corresponding lack of practice-based evidence in this area.
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My research aims to address this evidence gap by exploring the boundaries of “gender-based violence” as a conceptual frame, through describing the diversity of non-binary people’s experiences of gender and how they perceive gender in relation to their own experiences of DFV. ​​The findings of this study are expected to add critical new evidence to the literature on non-binary people’s experiences of DFV, help-seeking and formal and informal supports. Further, findings are expected to offer new insights for policymakers and service providers, to inform future design of DFV interventions and services.
Research Questions
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How do non-binary people describe the role of gender in their experiences of family violence?
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How do understandings of gender and personal gender identity inform the professional practice of people who provide family violence services?
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What needs to change for family violence responses in Australia to be inclusive of non-binary people?
METHODS
The study uses a qualitative, participatory research design to create opportunities for non-binary people impacted by DFV and professionals working in the sector to collectively reflect on the role of gender in DFV responses and identify opportunities to enable greater inclusion. This includes in-depth and semi-structured interviews and co-creation workshops, as illustrated below.
The role of gender in non-binary people's experiences of domestic and family violence
Presentation to the Stop Domestic Violence Conference on Kombumerri Country in November 2025.
Research team
Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney
Advisory Group
The Advisory Group meets three times per year and includes people of non-binary genders with lived experience of family violence, as well as professionals from the family violence and LGBTQIA+ service sectors. The Group provides expert advice to Shannon and the research team, ensuring that the project is conducted in a way that achieves its research aims.​
To support cultural safety, there are always at least two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members on the Group. Lived experience members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members are paid for their attendance at meetings.​