Family Homicide Peer Network

‘We are not alone’: Introducing the Family Homicide Peer Network

The Family Homicide Peer Network is an informal collective of victim-survivors who have lost a family member due to fatal family violence, or who care for children who have lost a parent to domestic homicide.

We say fatal family violence to include other deaths in the context of family violence that are not deemed homicides (e.g. suicides).

We emerged from a participatory research project through the University of Melbourne, in which young people and adults with lived experience of losing a parent to intimate partner homicide as children, were interviewed by the research team (including a member of the team who is a person with lived/living experience). The interviewees were also caregivers, and professionals who worked closely with these children.

The Network is a supportive, diverse group of adults of all ages, who acknowledge the life-long impacts of fatal family violence, and the need for support at different stages of life. We currently offer opportunities to connect with others who have experienced the devastating loss of a family member (including chosen family) to fatal family violence. We run an informal monthly online meet-up for anyone who has lost family to fatal family violence, or who cares for someone who has lost a loved one to fatal family violence. We may also be able to offer opportunities to collaborate on research initiatives and advocacy efforts. Our intention is to be able to offer more support and connection for children and young people, and are open to discussions of how we can support children and young people through our network.

Make a donation

You can support the Homicide at Home research activities by making a donation through the Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing’s gift account.

Your donation will contribute to the Homicide at Home team’s participatory research, which is led in partnership with—and shaped by the lived experience, expertise and priorities of—the Family Homicide Peer Network.

Together, the Network and research team work to better understand the experiences, needs and priorities of people affected by family homicide, ensuring that the voices and knowledge of those with lived experience are central to the research and help inform more compassionate and effective approaches to support and advocacy.

Go to the Centre for Mental Health Research