Our CRE comprises three strands of work answering important questions about WHERE policy reform and health service investment could be directed to maximise benefit for survivors; WHAT therapeutic approaches are most effective at addressing the harms of sexual violence; and HOW and WHEN to implement trauma-and-violence-informed care so that it becomes embedded across the health sector.

A) Using data to drive health systems change. Our research will harness under-utilised national datasets to identify gaps in service provision and key areas for policy and practice improvement. This strand of work will help to identify WHERE policy reform and health service investment should be targeted in order to maximise benefit for people with lived experience of sexual violence.

B) Exploring new pathways to healing.  We will test emerging, low-cost, non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches such as trauma-sensitive yoga, physical activity, music and art therapy. This strand of work will provide a much-needed evidence base that could dramatically expand available pathways to healing and recovery in health settings, providing cheaper, acceptable alternatives for survivors and addressing the crisis of unmet needs in the current service system. It will help to identify WHAT therapeutic approaches can restore wellbeing for survivors of sexual violence.

C) Embedding trauma-and-violence informed care in the health system. Together with lived experience experts, we will develop scaling pathways and strategies to implement trauma-and-violence informed care across the health system. We will bring together findings from Strands A and B to identify HOW we can deliver trauma-and-violence informed care at scale and WHEN it is best to implement (or de-implement) interventions.