Rochelle Braaf

Rochelle’s research interests are in gender based violence, with a particular emphasis on domestic and family violence and sexual assault. Her current research focuses on intimate partner sexual assault and links with homicide.

Her most recent project focused on women's financial security, pre and post violent relationships, with a view to developing service and agency responses that better support women’s economic capacity. This research was conducted across three Australian states, involving 57 women affected by domestic violence and 50 workers.

Among Rochelle’s publications, she has authored papers on family law, arrest policies, and domestic violence statistics, as well as giving numerous conference papers on a wide range of topics concerning gender based violence.

Before joining the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse in August 2006, Rochelle worked for six years in policy development in the Violence Against Women Specialist Unit in the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department.

Rochelle gained her PhD from Macquarie University in 2000 in Human Geography, critiquing impact assessment methods used in climate change research. Prior to that, she obtained a MSocSci and BSocSci with Distinction from RMIT in Melbourne. Rochelle is a member of the Australasian Evaluation Society.