Our team of experts at RMIT, The University of Wollongong and La Trobe Universities have joined forces to investigate the use and potential of anonymous reporting options since 2020.
Our team of researchers are dedicated to better understanding the needs of survivors and the impact of alternative reporting options on therapeutic and criminal justice outcomes.
Meet our current team members, each with their own unique background and expertise.
Georgina Heydon (she/her) is a Forensic Linguist and Professor at RMIT Social and Global Studies Centre. Georgina is engaged in collaborative projects concerning gender in relation to issues of conflict, development and governance. Georgina’s research focuses on police interviewing in family violence investigations, technological innovations for responding to violence and abuse, as well as broader issues of language, translation and justice in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. You can follow Georgina: @HeydonFL
Rachel Loney-Howes (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the School of Health and Society at the University of Wollongong. Rachel’s research specialises in the use of digital technologies for seeking rape justice with a specific interest in the relationship between activism, support services and law/legal reforms in relation to sexual assault. Rachel is the co-editor of #MeToo and the Politics of Social Change (with Dr Bianca Fileborn, University of Melbourne), and the author of Online Anti-Rape Activism: Exploring the Politics of the Personal in the Age of Digital Media. You can follow Rachel: @rloneyhowes
Nicola Henry (she/her) is a Professor and Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Social and Global Studies Centre at RMIT University in Melbourne. Her research investigates the prevalence, nature and impacts of gendered violence, including the legal and non-legal response to these harms in Australian and international contexts. Her current research is focused on technology-facilitated sexual violence and image-based sexual abuse. Nicola was lead Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery project on image-based sexual abuse in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. She is currently undertaking an ARC Future Fellowship on digital platforms and image-based sexual abuse. You can follow Nicola: @n_henry
Sophie Hindes (they/them) is a PhD Candidate at the University of Melbourne in the School of Social and Political Sciences. Sophie’s research investigates sexual, domestic and gendered violence from queer and feminist theoretical perspectives. Their current PhD research investigates sexual consent and negotiating pleasure in queer relationships and looks to expand understanding of sexual consent beyond violence-prevention frameworks. They have also researched and written on technology-facilitated violence and media responses to the #MeToo movement. You can follow Sophie: @sophiehindes
Tully O’Neill is a Lecturer in Criminology at La Trobe University Law School. Tully’s research is concerned with alternative conceptualisations of ‘justice’ in the aftermath of sexual violence. Tully is author of the forthcoming book, Sexual Victimisation and Justice in Digital Society: Navigating Technology and the Aftermath of Sexual Violence. You can follow Tully @tullyoneill_
Michelle Gissara (She/Her) is a Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Predoctoral Research Fellow and Casual Researcher at RMIT University. Michelle’s research has explored Victorian news media representations of image-based sexual abuse and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes, such as victim blaming, as well as a lack of help-seeking resources. Her current PhD research investigates First Nation’s lived experiences of image-based sexual abuse in Victoria. She also works as a national network member for the Black Dog Institute’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, as well as volunteering in aged care and climate justice. You can follow Michelle: @micky21
Alternative Reporting For Sexual Assault Project 