A valuable research and knowledge translation partnership has been established between the Domestic and Family Violence Research Team in the Department of Social Work at University of Melbourne and Baptcare. An evaluation program has been established to explore and document evidence from innovative programs (eg. + Shift).
Baptcare is deeply committed to helping people in our communities to prevent, minimise and recover from family violence.
Across Victoria and Tasmania, Baptcare provides services, programs, therapeutic support and network of referrals that empower people experiencing family violence or its effects. Baptcare’s research team has undertaken a range of research projects, both independently and with our tertiary research partners, that explore various aspects of the experience of family violence.
Featured Research Project
The following projects give an insight into some of the world-leading research undertaken by Baptcare.


Currently, +SHIFT is being evaluated by the University of Melbourne. This evaluation builds on Baptcare’s approach to evidence-based programs which aim to provide positive outcomes for participants.
References & Further Reading
Working with women who use force: a feasibility study protocol of the Positive (+) SHIFT groupwork program in Australia.
BMJ Open, 2019; 9:e027496. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027496
Kertesz, M; Humphreys, C; Young Larance, L; Spiteri-Staines, A; Ovenden, G & Vicary, D (2019).
Learn more about the project here
Positive Shift – A curriculum Framework.
Baptcare, Melbourne Victoria,
Young Larance, L; Anderson, P &Vicary D. (2019).

References & Further Reading
It's been an absolute nightmare - Family Violence in Kinship Care in Victoria.
Baptcare internal report: Camberwell VIC.
Breman, R. & MacRae, A. (2017).
Learn more about the project here
It’s been an absolute nightmare - Family Violence in Kinship Care in Victoria.
Children Australia, 43(1), pp. 7-12. doi:10.1017/cha.2018.8
Breman, R., MacRae, A. & Vicary, D. (2018).
The hidden victims - Family Violence in Kinship Care in Victoria.
Children Australia, pp. 1-6. doi:10.1017/cha.2018.15
Breman, R., MacRae, A. & Vicary, D. (2018).
Child Perpetrated Family Violence in Kinship Care in Victoria.
Children Australia, pp. 1-6. doi:10.1017/cha.2018.28
Breman, R., MacRae, A. & Vicary, D. (2018).
Family Violence and Abuse Against Non-Parental Caraegivers: An Australian Perspective.
In Shackelford, T.K. (Ed). The SAGE Handbook of Domestic Violence, Vol. 2., Part 9, pp. 1022-1036.
SAGE: Thousand Oaks.
MacRae, A., Breman, R. & Vicary, D. (2021).