UWA PLUS
Understanding and Responding to Domestic Family Violence in Society
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a critical health, social, and justice issue impacting individuals, families, and communities in Australia and globally. Poor understanding of DFV, particularly coercive control, undermines victim-survivors' safety, autonomy, and well-being. This micro-credential equips health, social service, and legal professionals with evidence-based knowledge to recognise abuse, identify risk indicators, provide intervention, enable recovery, and enhance safety for child and adult victim-survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.
This micro-credential includes two modules: In the first module, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of DFV and coercive control, including physical and non-physical forms of abuse, and systems abuse. The course covers best practices for service provision, risk management, identifying perpetrator behaviours, and referring victim-survivors to specialised services and perpetrators to intervention programs. The second module examines the complexities of DFV in First Nations communities, addressing historical trauma and systemic inequality. Practical strategies for working with men, fostering accountability, and driving change are provided, emphasising culturally competent approaches for prevention and intervention. The course includes legislative and community justice responses, addressing challenges in the legal system.
This micro-credential is delivered with the support of the Australian Government's Micro-credentials Pilot in Higher Education.
Upon successful completion, you'll receive:
- Twelve (12) PD Points
- A Certificate of Achievement
- A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
- Delivery mode
- Online. The course will include pre-reading (reports, journal articles, books, articles, research papers), videos, 2 case studies and pre-recorded lectures delivered by subject matter experts (clinical and legal professionals, researchers, and lived experience survivors). These will be followed by weekly live online sessions. The content will be delivered multimode (hybrid-lecture recordings, and facilitated online sessions where students will have opportunities to interact with experts).
- Course dates
- 23 April 2025 -16 October 2025
- Duration
- 26 weeks
- Effort
- 300 hours
- Cost
- Thanks to the Australian Government's Micro-credentials Pilot in Higher Education, this course is being offered fee-free. Limited places available. Open to domestic students only.
- Critical information summary
Registrations open soon
To register your interest in a fee-free place, submit an EOI form via the link at the bottom of this page.
What you'll learn
Describe the frameworks, theories and drivers of DFV and coercive control.
Identify the various forms of DFV, and distinguish between incident-specific and pattern-based abuse.
Apply an intersectional analysis lens to DFV and identify the complex interplay of risk factors.
Identify impacts associated with DFV and coercive control, describe risk management and identify referral pathways for adult and child victims.
Develop skills and language to document abuse underpinned by principles of the Safe and Together Model that hold perpetrators to account, and partner with the non-offending parent.
Develop skills and interventions to engage safely with men, including men in First Nations communities.
Articulate how traditional knowledge systems and cultural frameworks can support behaviour change.
Describe the complexities and impacts of the legal systems in DFV.
Why study this course?
Coercive control in DFV is a critical health, social, and justice issue. A lack of understanding can result in compromised safety and affect all aspects of a victim-survivor's life. Coercive control can diminish a victim-survivors ability to exercise their agency and autonomy, resulting in entrapment. Professionals in direct contact with victim-survivors play a key role in early intervention. This course enhances their skills by providing evidence-based knowledge to identify, respond, and refer victims to appropriate services. This micro-credential addresses the growing need for evidence-based tertiary education on coercive control and DFV across various professions, including health, law, education, social services, and Aboriginal-led organisations. It fosters multi-professional collaboration to develop shared understandings and integrated responses aligned with best practice.
Who should study this course?
This micro-credential is tailored for professionals in healthcare, social service, and the legal and justice systems, including psychologists, social workers, doctors, lawyers, magistrates, child health nurses, police officers, Aboriginal health workers and people working within ACCOs. Additionally, professionals from any sector eg teachers, as well as friends and family members of those experiencing coercive control, can greatly benefit from this course.
Meeting the rising demand for formal training in DFV, this micro-credential supports workforce growth and professional development. It is relevant to people working within statutory agencies, NGOs, specialist services, health and legal sectors, and individuals seeking expertise in DFV, coercive control, and Aboriginal perspectives on best practices.
What's next after this course?
The WA Government DFV Systems Reform Plan (2024 - 2029) sets the vision for strengthening responses to family and domestic violence in Western Australia. The Plan envisages a service system response that is collaborative, connected and recognised around victim-survivor safety, recovery and re-establishment. Research has shown that the workforce (across a wide range of professions) requires knowledge and skills in identifying and responding to the high statistics of DFV. This course aims to contribute to building an improved service system response.
Registrations open soon
Expressions of interest for 2025 registrations are now closed.
Limited places available.