The statewide domestic violence research centre based at Central Queensland University Mackay has changed its name.

From January 5 the centre became known as the Queensland Centre for Domestic & Family Violence Research.

Centre Director Heather Nancarrow said the name change highlights the Centre’s focus on research ensuring that it was not confused with direct support services for people affected by domestic and family violence.

“Unfortunately, the previous name did not make clear the Centre’s role and staff of the Centre were frequently fielding calls from distressed people asking for counselling or legal assistance,” she said.

“While staff were able to appropriately refer these callers, the confusion was unnecessarily adding frustration to their already stressful situations.” “The value of the change and what it retains, is that it is very clear that the work of this Centre is focused on research in the area of domestic and family violence.” Ms Nancarrow said in the past two decades the term 'domestic violence' had become synonymous with abuse of women by their intimate male partners, emphasising the gendered nature of spousal abuse. The term 'family violence' had been adopted more recently in recognition of abuse within other family relationships.

Many Indigenous communities preferred the term 'family violence' because it better reflected the way in which violence and abuse affects the whole, extended family. Some Indigenous women also adopted the term 'family violence' because of their frustrations about the lack of attention to racial violence in analyses of 'domestic violence'.

The Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research is committed to addressing both 'domestic violence' and 'family violence' issues in its program of research and educational resources and strategies arising from the research.

The Centre officially opened in October 2002, following receipt of a triennial grant from the state’s Department of Families and seeks to increase the evidence base for sound policy and good practice in responding to domestic and family violence in Queensland. The centre was previously known as the Queensland Centre for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.