Impact Symposium
In June 2024 the Technological University of the Shannon and Haven Horizons hosted a Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control Impact Symposium – “Interagency Training Saves Lives” which examined the impact of the delivery of the accredited continuous professional development training Reflecting on and Responding to Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control. The Symposium was attended by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan and the President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane.
Findings from new research by Dr Melinda Gushwa, Head of Applied Social Sciences, TUS, indicated the importance of interagency training for frontline professionals in the domestic abuse field and led to calls for a fundamental change in how funding is allocated to the sector.
82% of respondents (frontline practitioners) said they would be interested in further study and the same percentage said that they have implemented changes in their daily practice.
Dr Gushwa said, “Graduates were overwhelmingly positive about the course and its impact on their understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and in particular coercive control. They were better prepared for their work because they were able to take what they learned in the course and immediately apply that knowledge to their practice. Practitioners reported that we all benefit when this kind of learning experience takes place but the most vulnerable among us benefit the most. This type of collaborative multi-disciplinary learning is transformative and has the power to impact how individuals, agencies and communities respond to domestic abuse and coercive control.
Dr Gushwa’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion with Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan (GNPSB), Dr Salome Mbugua (AkiDwA), Suzanne Walker (HEA) and Madeline Mc Aleer (Haven Horizons) moderated by Sarah Harte.
The Symposium was closed by Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, the CEO of the new statutory agency Cuan.
L-R: Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan, President of TUS Vincent Cunnane, Madeline Mc Aleer Haven Horizons, Dr Melinda Gushwa TUS, Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe CEO Cuan (Photo credit: Arthur Ellis Photography)
