I’m delighted to report that Helen Singh, the Master’s student recruited to our Australian Research Grant, has passed her thesis examination. She did so in tough personal circumstances. Helen grew up in Fiji among extended family after losing both parents and a sister as a child. While undertaking her thesis research, her partner and father of two small children died in a tragic boxing accident in Fiji. With the support of the Graduate Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Helen was given extra time to complete and she did so.
Helen, an overseas student, plans to travel to Queensland to graduate in April this year. The abstract of her thesis appears below.
Bridging the Gaps: Strengthening Civil Agency Collaboration to Combat Gender-based Violence in Fiji
Helen Singh’s master’s thesis aims to improve responses to gender-based violence (GBV) in the Pacific region, where rates are significantly higher than the global average. Conducted as part of a larger Australian Research Council project, the study focused on inter-agency collaboration among community, civil, government, and police entities in Fiji, addressing GBV.
The research aimed to explore:
- The nature of cooperation with Fiji Police in addressing GBV.
- Agencies’ preparedness to work together on GBV issues.
- Challenges in inter-agency collaboration.
Data was collected through semi-structured interviews across two field trips to Fiji in 2023 and 2024, involving 58 participants from various agencies, including 30 police officers and practitioners from civil and non-governmental organisations.
Findings revealed that collaboration is influenced by geographical and resource constraints, professional relationships, and cultural norms, which pose challenges in balancing traditional practices with legal frameworks. The Fiji Police are typically the first point of contact for GBV victims and work closely with organisations such as Medical Services Pacific and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. However, cultural protocols hinder community-level collaboration.
The study identified significant inefficiencies in communication among agencies, suggesting that enhanced collaboration could better support GBV victims and survivorswhile proposing pathways for improvement.