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In this article we report on the research fi ndings from our exploratory study examining connections between Australian responses to two important social issues: domestic violence and employment. Although international literature particularly from North America, comprehensively addresses the connections between domestic violence and employment, there is a paucity of Australian research on this topic. Intrigued by this as both practitioners and researchers, we sought to discover whether the problems, solutions and conclusions addressed internationally were relevant to an Australian context. The result was a unique contribution to Australian knowledge and practice where we demonstrate the applicability of some aspects of North American approaches to Australia and document innovative local practices in the fi eld. In this article we argue for a more comprehensive approach in responses to the connections between domestic violence and employment as an alternative pathway out of poverty for women affected by domestic violence.

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The Sutherland Drink‐Spiking Project is a collaborative interagency project initiated by the Southern Sydney Sexual Assault Service. Focusing on selected intervention as well as primary and secondary prevention with drink‐spiking and sexual assault in southern Sydney, this project is distinctive due to its primary focus on perpetrators potential perpetrators, and their peers. Beyond this, the project also provided an opportunity for social workers to meaningfully engage with and apply innovative project management practice. This is notable since reform initiatives in public sector agencies in New South Wales are encouraging the use of project management practice and social workers need to engage with these ‘new directions’ or risk becoming marginalised. This paper explores The Sutherland Drink‐Spiking Project and demonstrates how applying a project management methodology benefited social work practice.

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