Dundalk IT commences ground-breaking RiVeR Project

^{ABOVE: Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President DkIT, some members of the RiVeR Project steering committee including Dr. Edel Healy and Dr. Kathleen Nallen DkIT, Andrea McDermott, Men’s Aid Ireland, Joanne Murphy, Louth Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Geordie McAteer, Coxs Demesne Youth and Community Project Dundalk, Laura Cooney, Department of Justice and Gemma McNally, Student Counselling, University of Galway}

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) says it is "extremely proud" to report that the School of Health and Science recently held the first meeting of the multi-disciplinary steering committee for the RiVeR Project (DkIT responding to the impacts of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence: multi-agency education, research and training initiatives).

This ground-breaking project has been funded under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Performance Funding scheme, receiving total funding of €833,333, and will run for a three-year period. 

Dr. Edel Healy, Head of School of Health and Science said, “The RiVeR Project is an ambitious project which is targeted towards broadening the availability and opportunities for education, research and training to cohorts that are most in need of further support and education in the areas of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV)”.

DkIT in partnership with key stakeholders, aims to incorporate systematic continuous research and evaluation into the RiVeR project and to build a community of practice at national level. This initiative will also drive discussion and debate to inform national policy.

In addition, the project intends to develop educational resources for higher education institutions to raise awareness and build further capacity in this field. The RiVeR Project Steering Committee consists of members with expertise in the area of DSGBV including a Domestic Violence activist, representatives from Barnardos, Women’s Aid Dundalk, Safe Ireland, An Garda Síochána, Drogheda Women’s & Children’s Refuge, Ulster University, Men’s Aid Ireland, The Department of Justice, Coxs Demesne Youth and Community Project Dundalk, Health Service Executive, University of Galway and Louth Children and Young People’s Services Committees.

The steering committee will inform the development and implementation of the RiVeR project and provide strategic focus, vision and oversight to support all aspects of this ground-breaking initiative. 

The Project Lead for the RiVeR Project Dr. Kathleen Nallen said, “The recent first meeting of the steering committee for the RiVeR Project was a landmark moment for this initiative which is a response to a national problem.

"It was a phenomenal experience to have all these experts in the area of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence come together to share our commitment and collective skills.

"I am enthusiastic about working with this committee as we investigate how we can move forward and come up with meaningful solutions in education, research and training that will change the landscape of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence”.

The DkIT RiVeR Project comes as a result of the successful Certificate in the Fundamentals of Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse programme which has been running in DkIT since 2016.  Certificate in Fundamentals of Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse / Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years / School of Health & Science / DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology

This was the first accredited level 8 programme in Ireland in relation to Domestic Abuse and was recently shortlisted for the national ‘Education Awards 2023’. 

To find out more about the DkIT RiVeR Project contact kathleen.nallen@dkit.ie