Melbourne School of Health SciencesSocial Work

Research objectives

The main objectives of the Alfred Felton Research Program are to:

  • Improve the well-being of vulnerable children, young people and their families through the development of relevant knowledge to inform policy and practice.
  • Support the development of research-informed practice in the family and domestic violence sector.
  • Build the research capacity of community service organisations through the development of research projects of relevance to the sector.
  • Develop a 'research into action' project that focuses on the dissemination and implementation of current research knowledge that contributes to policy and practice.
  • Contribute to the development of knowledge that recognises and respects diversity across communities, cultures, gender, class, age, sexuality and different abilities. In particular the issues for indigenous communities, children and families are acknowledged and developed wherever possible.
  • Recognise that sources of knowledge are diverse and that empirical research needs to both draw on and develop work with practitioners, policy workers and consumers/service users and community members as equal partners in the development of relevant knowledge for practice and policy.
  • Contribute to innovative agendas in child and family welfare and family violence that stimulate innovative developments to progress policy and practice.
  • Develop a program that addresses issues that are relevant locally, nationally and internationally.
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