Federation University Associate Professor Dr Elisa Zentveld is combining her expertise in visiting friends and relatives tourism and the experiences of family violence victims post separation for the new research project.

She has received ethics approval to begin the research and is looking to speak to victims of family violence about their experiences and perspectives.

"There is a lack of understanding of what support is needed for people once they are separated," Dr Zentveld said.

"People often get isolated and they get cut off, which is one of the power tactics employed by perpetrators of family violence and their world becomes quite closed.

"One of the things that may indeed be as a helpful recovery for the victims and their children is the visiting friends and relatives market.

"That might be friends or family visiting them or the victim and the children making trips to visit friends and relatives. That has not been explored as a helpful strategy to move forward."

Dr Zentveld said perpetrators of family violence commonly isolated the victims to prevent support networks with friends and relatives.

She said repairing those connections through visiting friends and family post-separation could help victims keep safe and access support.

Dr Zentveld presented her research on family violence to the tourism industry at an international conference in Melbourne in June 2019, the first time family violence was discussed in a tourism setting.

She said this new research project combining the two sectors followed on from questions raised at that conference.

"I think too often we get too focused and specialised in one area and sometimes that doesn't allow us to see other options," Dr Zentveld said.

"It is really important to look at things in a broad way. I do feel that family violence is one of those things that percolates in many different areas but isn't really yet appreciated in that light."

"We focus on talking to professionals as therapy, but I am not sure it is the only solution."

IN OTHER NEWS

Dr Zentveld is a world-leading researcher in visiting friends and relatives tourism.

She has also worked to complete a PhD on the impact of sole parental responsibility post-separation on victims of family violence and their children.

If you are a victim of family violence who has separated and is not at risk and would like to share your experiences, contact Dr Zentveld via email, e.zentveld@federation.edu.au.

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