Dundalk IT's RiVeR Project marks a decade of Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Education

Dundalk Institute of Technology's (DkIT) marked a decade of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) education at its annual community of practice conference. 

The event, which was opened by a video address from Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan brought together almost 250 stakeholders from organisations across Ireland. 

Minister O'Callaghan said the work of the RiVeR Project sits alongside the government's zero tolerance response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

"What you are doing matters to the people who you are helping. It matters to survivors seeking safety and justice. It matters to communities striving to prevent harm before it occurs.

Your work is challenging, complex and demanding, but it's also transformative and life-changing.

I want to thank The RiVeR Project team at Dundalk Institute of Technology for your leadership and commitment," he said. 

Since it began in 2023, the RiVeR Project supports a Community of Practice of around 1,100 through regular knowledge-sharing events and workshops. 

The team has developed several education programmes, including a Level 8 Certificate in Understanding and Responding to DSGBV, launched in 2024, Micro-Credentials and a Master’s programme currently in development.

In late 2024, the RiVeR Project launched ‘In Their Shoes,’ an experiential learning toolkit now being rolled out across Ireland following ‘Train-the-Trainer’ workshops.

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Dr. Edel Healy, Head of School of Health & Science at DkIT welcomed attendees, followed by an update on the RiVeR Project and the launch of eight new RiVeR Project DSGBV education and training videos by Dr. Kathleen Nallen, RiVeR Project Lead.

These resources will be made available to a broad range of organisations and aim to strengthen awareness, recognition and professional responses to DSGBV.

Kathleen also introduced the new Micro-Credential ‘Certificate in the Fundamentals of Coercive Control’ programme which will commence in March 2026 in DkIT.

Nicola Douglas, European Regional Manager at the Safe & Together Institute said the RiVeR Project "demonstrates the power of bringing practitioners, researchers, and advocates together to strengthen our collective response to domestic abuse and create meaningful, lasting change in how systems support children and families affected by abuse”.