Researchers Seeking Women’s Experiences of Protection Orders

A team of researchers based at Waikato University have been contracted by the Ministry of Women's Affairs to undertake a study of women's experiences of Protection Orders.

The project aims to describe women’s experiences in obtaining Protection Orders, the impact of Protection Orders and the response to breaches of the Orders. The researchers hope to identify those aspects of Protection Orders that are working well and areas for improvement, including barriers that prevent women from applying for and obtaining Protection Orders in the first place.

Protection Orders are one of the key legal protections for victims of violence, and are issued under the Domestic Violence Act (1995) by the Family Court.

Case studies that consist of interviews with women, interviews with key informants (lawyers, advocates, Police, social workers etc) involved in each case, and document reviews will form the basis of the project. Focus groups with key people in the domestic violence field will also be undertaken.

The team is asking for domestic violence practitioners around the country to nominate women to participate in the research. They want to talk to a variety of women who have experienced violence, including those with and those without Protection Orders. The researchers would also like to hear from people working in the area of family violence who can contribute their views on how accessible and effective Protection Orders are.

Please contact one of the researchers below for more details:

Ruth Busch, phone: (07) 838 4466 ext 8569, email: rwb1@waikato.ac.nz
Neville Robertson, phone: (07) 838 4466 ext 8300, email: scorpio@waikato.ac.nz
Roma Balzer, phone: (07) 834 3148, email: romab@slingshot.co.nz
Radha D’Souza, phone: (07) 838 4466 ext 8219, email: r.dsouza@waikato.ac.nz