Australia Launches Pilot Program to Prevent Domestic Homicides Using Counter-Terrorism Strategies
A new national pilot program in Australia is adapting strategies used to prevent lone-actor terrorism to combat family and intimate partner homicides. The Fixated Grievance Perpetrator Intervention Pilot aims to identify and intervene with individuals whose intense personal grievances put their partners or relatives at risk.
"These people really feel they have been wronged... When this sense of grievance is attached to an abnormally intense fixation, it can combine with other factors to become a catalyst for extreme violence." – Troy McEwan, Professor of Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Swinburne University
Funding and Leadership
The federal government has allocated AUD 21.8 million for the pilot, which will be rolled out in two states. The program is led by Swinburne University and the Australian National University (ANU) , with evaluation conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
The initiative brings together experts in forensic psychology, psychiatry, criminology, policing, and victim support to design a multi-agency response unit.
Research Foundation
The pilot is grounded in research showing that a significant portion of domestic homicides are driven by grievance. A key 2022 study by chief investigator Troy McEwan found that 20 out of 38 reviewed cases of fatal family violence were "grievance-fuelled."
The national context is urgent. The idea for the pilot was proposed in 2024 following a spate of homicides of women and children, which prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to declare a "national crisis" of gendered violence.
Shared Patterns of Violence
The program draws a direct parallel between domestic perpetrators and lone-actor terrorists. Research shows that both groups are often propelled by personal grievances, and many mass killers and terrorists have histories of domestic violence.
"It's like a Venn diagram where grievance sits in the middle of all these different forms of targeted violence." – Emily Corner, Associate Professor, ANU
Project Goals and Indicators
The pilot has two primary objectives:
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Define Red Flags: Identify the characteristics of grievance-fuelled perpetrators, including factors such as:
- Hopelessness and suicidality
- "Catalyst" events, including loss of child custody, job loss, or relationship breakdown
- Patterns of coercive control and stalking
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Create a Referral System: Develop a clear pathway for professionals and community members to identify fixated individuals and refer them to appropriate intervention services.
Practical Application
Dale Wakefield, CEO of GenWest, noted that the resulting tool could significantly improve risk assessment for frontline workers. "It could help practitioners better assess risk and escalate cases appropriately," Wakefield said, highlighting the potential for the program to turn research into real-world protection.