Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) was absolutely delighted to recently host their inaugural RiVeR Project community of practice event on campus. The RiVeR Project is a national initiative based in DkIT which has been initiated to support and facilitate frontline services who respond to the impacts of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through research, education and training. This project is a groundbreaking multi-agency approach to a national problem.
The RiVeR Project is funded under Higher Education Authority Performance Funding. The project, in partnership with key stakeholders, aims to incorporate systematic continuous research and evaluation to build a community of practice at national level. The initiative aims to develop educational resources for higher education institutions to raise awareness and build further capacity in this field. Through research and education this project will broaden the national availability and opportunities for training for those most in need of further support and education in Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV).
This recent sold-out community of practice event offered attendees keynote addresses from Professor John Devaney, Centenary Professor of Social Work and Dean of the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh. Professor Devaney Said“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to talk at this extremely important initiative. The RiVeR Project is now an additional frame of reference to empower first line workers functioning in this area”. Professor Devaney’s discourse was followed by an address by Mary McDermott, CEO of Safe Ireland. Mary McDermott stated at the event,“This project is an enormous opportunity for education in this area and it has the potential to help build an intellectual infrastructure for the work that needs to be done”.
The event was attended by over 100 participants from a wide range of stakeholder organisations from across Ireland with the aim of maximising support and building a community of practice for those who currently work in this area. The keynote addresses were followed by an interactive workshop to ascertain stakeholder education and training needs in the area of sexual and gender-based violence. The event also facilitated opportunities for attendees to network with colleagues in the field.
Dr Kathleen Nallen, RiVeR Project Lead added“We were thrilled to host our inaugural community of practice event and were delighted that an event of this ilk was in such high demand. We look forward to growing and evolving our community of practice which will support those working in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof John Devaney and Mary McDermott for their incredible and insightful keynote addresses. We felt privileged to have two such distinguished and knowledgeable guests speak so eloquently about the field of DSGBV”.
The RiVeR Project team also took this opportunity to officially launch their new website and were delighted to be joined virtually by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee via a recorded video message which was shown on the day to all attendees.
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