ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Breaking the Hold: Strangulation Prevention & Response celebrates Red Rose Foundation’s 10th anniversary and a decade of leadership in addressing non-fatal strangulation, one of the highest-risk indicators for domestic violence-related harm and homicide.

Recognising a critical gap in support for survivors, Red Rose Foundation has strengthened specialised responses, advocacy, education, and counselling for women affected by strangulation. In 2021, this work led to the opening of Australia’s first Strangulation Trauma Centre. 

This conference brought together specialist DFV services, police, health and justice professionals, community-based organisations, researchers, policymakers, educators and advocates from Australia and around the world. Through international and local expertise, participants explored the latest research, practical strategies, and lived experience insights to strengthen prevention and response.

Breaking the Hold is both a celebration and a call to action, we are honouring ten years of impact while equipping the sector to turn insight into action and create safer futures for women and children.

AUDIENCE

This conference brought together the latest global research, innovative practice, and lived experience to help delegates translate insights into action locally. 

Who attended:

  • DFV, sexual violence and child protection practitioners 
  • Police and justice system professionals 
  • Health and forensic professionals 
  • Policy makers and government leaders 
  • Researchers and advocates working in violence prevention 
  • Lived-experience-informed leaders and allies 


Learning outcomes:

  • Latest information (and emerging research) on how to identify and respond to non-fatal strangulation
  • Applying international best practice to Australian context and sharing tried and tested successful practice from Australia for replication
  • Tools for advocacy, counselling, and policy implementation


Together, we’ll share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and turn insight into action.

MEET THE EXPERTS


Gael Strack 

Pioneer of non-fatal strangulation research. Co-founded Alliance for HOPE International and the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention to reform responses to DFV strangulation in the United States. With over 30 years’ experience as a prosecutor, legal academic and systems reformer, Gael’s work has shaped legislation, advanced investigative practice and improved outcomes for victims of strangulation and other violent crimes.

Dr. Bill Smock  

Leading clinical forensic doctor on non-fatal strangulation. Police Surgeon in Louisville and medical director for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention in the United States, advancing evidence-based responses to DFV strangulation. An internationally recognised forensic expert, Dr Smock has investigated and reconstructed hundreds of fatal, near-fatal and non-fatal strangulation cases, training law enforcement, clinicians and prosecutors to strengthen evidence-based responses and improve justice outcomes.

Dr. Katherine Snyder

Child abuse pediatrician specialising in pediatric strangulation. Medical director of child abuse programs in Texas, educating on children's unique vulnerabilities to strangulation injuries in abuse contexts. 

Thelma Schwartz

Principal Legal Officer at Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service. Advocates for First Nations victim-survivors of DFV, including non-fatal strangulation reforms, and received the Dame Quentin Bryce Domestic Violence Prevention Advocate Award. 

Prof. Claire Ferguson

Claire Ferguson is an Associate Professor, researcher and consultant in forensic criminology in the School of Justice at Queensland University of Technology. Claire's work brings together research and forensic case work on complex death investigations.

Dr. Brian Sullivan

Dr Brian Sullivan is an academic, professional practitioner, trainer, supervisor, and educator in the domestic violence sector and founder of SICURA, a consultancy and training organisation for DFV professionals, especially for those working with male offenders.

Prof. Heather Douglas

Heather Douglas joined Melbourne Law School in 2021 and teaches and researches in the area of criminal law and procedure. Her expertise on legal responses to domestic and family violence is internationally recognised and she co-ordinates the National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book.

Di Macleod

Di is the founder and director of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, a director of the Red Rose Foundation, and sits on several advisory bodies including the Queensland Sexual Violence Prevention Roundtable. Di has trained across Australia in relation to sexual violence and strangulation

Dr. Michelle Fitts

Leading researcher in traumatic brain injury, with a focus on understanding the needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living with traumatic brain injury from family violence.  

Prof. Sandra Creamer

CEO of Australian Women's Health Network. Advocates for improved screening and responses to non-fatal strangulation in diverse communities,

including same-gender attracted women, and links it to acquired brain injury. 

Dr. Debby Herbenik

Sexual health researcher and educator on rough sex and sexual choking/strangulation. Leads population-level studies on sexual behaviour to inform safer practices and harm reduction in contemporary sexual culture. 

Sarah Dangar

Doctoral Researcher at City St George’s, University of London, specialising in fatal domestic abuse and statutory reviews. She chairs Domestic Homicide Reviews as an independent consultant, delivers training to organisations and local authorities, and is supporting the Scottish Government to develop its Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review model.