Dr. Heather Lovatt
PhD, Grad.Dip Management, Ad.Cert Research Methods, Grad.Cert Tertiary Teaching, B.Community WelareDirector, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
6 - 1.02
Heather was appointed QCDFVR Director in March 2018, after working at the Centre as a Senior Researcher for several years. Heather’s undergraduate degree is in Community Work. With a background of working with community services in the government and non-government sectors in Queensland, Heather has held a diverse range of positions in the practice, program, policy and research realm. Her focus at the Centre is on applied or social impact research, education and training that is practice orientated, and developing tools and resources for the sector responding to gendered violence. Working within, and supported by, a national, dual sector and engaged University (CQUniversity Australia) is a fit for Heather’s current role with a tangible intersect between research and practice in regional and remote areas. Ensuring the knowledge and wisdom of those impacted by gendered violence, priority populations and front-line practitioners are included in the development of all our work continues as a priority for Heather in this role.
Background
Heather's interests include applied gendered violence research; research capacity building; social impact research
Current Research:
Response to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Experiencing or using Domestic and Family Violence in Townsville
Review of the Effectiveness of P.R.A.D.O.
Investment Review of Services and Programs to Support Children and Young People who have Experienced or been Exposed to Domestic and Family Violence
Research with Red Rose Foundation - non-lethal strangulation
Universities Studied At
James Cook University
CQuniversity Australia
Universities Worked At
James Cook University
CQUniversity Australia
Griffith University
Previous teaching
Sessional Lecturer - Griffith University, Gold Coast and Mt Gravatt
Professional Experience
March 2018-Present - Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
September 2015-March 2018 - Senior Research Officer, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
January 2014-December 2014 - Interim Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
November 2012-December 2013 - PHD student, James Cook University; Sessional Lecturer/Researcher, Griffith University
June 1996-October 2012 - Various Project Officer, Managerial roles, Department of Communities
February 1992-June 1996 - Program Officer/Community Resource Officer, Department of Families
Professional Memberships
Queensland Government Child Death Review Board
Queensland Sexual Assault Network
Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network
Australian Evaluation Society
Industry Reports
Lovatt H, McDermott L, Cheyne N. Evaluation of the North Queensland Combined Women’s Service Sexual Assault Response Team Trial: 2018. Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Mackay.
Taylor AM, Ibrahim N, Lovatt H, Wakefield S, Cheyne N, Finn K. Domestic and family violence protection orders in Australia: an investigation of information-sharing and enforcement with a focus on interstate orders: Final report ANROWS Horizons (Issue 07/2017). Nov 2017. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), Sydney, NSW
Cheyne N, Carswell S, Lovatt H, Gunning C. Australian Nurse- Family Partnership Program (ANFPP) preliminary literature review: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence and nurse home visiting programs. 2017. Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Mackay
Taylor A, Ibrahim N, Lovatt H, Wakefield S, Cheyne N, Finn K. Domestic and family violence protection orders in Australia: an investigation of information-sharing and enforcement with a focus on interstate orders: Key findings and future directions ANROWS research project 4.1 (RP.14.17/2). 2017. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS), Sydney, NSW
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4409 Social Work
Current Capacity
Public Health and Health Services - Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
Other Studies in Human Society - Gender Specific Studies
