Patrick Shepherdson is a consultant with more than 20 years’ experience at undertaking research and developing strategies to prevent and reduce crime and violence, enhance community safety and support justice outcomes, wellbeing, healing and recovery.
Since establishing a consultancy in late 2010, Patrick has been engaged by a diverse range of government, non-government, Aboriginal, community and philanthropic organisations to engage communities in research, evaluation and strategy development across Australia and the Pacific region. He has significant knowledge and experience conducting research and supporting strategy development across a range of complex issues including crime and safety, juvenile and adult offending, alcohol and other drug misuse, family and domestic violence, child sexual assault, child protection, intergenerational trauma and Indigenous healing. He also supports Aboriginal and other non-government organisations with development of business cases, policy, program design and grant applications and has a proven track-record of attracting policy and financial support from government and philanthropic bodies for initiatives.
EXPERTISE
Patrick has demonstrated experience in engaging diverse communities in qualitative social research and strategy development in a range of challenging urban, regional and remote settings.
He is adept at qualitative research methodologies, including research, data and problem analysis, has superior skills in community engagement and consultation and a proven track record of brokering support for evidence-based solutions within a given community’s capacity.
Patrick is particularly adept at engaging and consulting with diverse and marginalised communities and people who experience barriers to safety and justice, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, emerging and refugee communities, young people at risk, people with substance abuse and addiction issues, people with mental illness and cognitive disabilities, survivors of violence and sexual assault and adults and young people in the criminal justice system. He has also partnered with other social research companies on state-wide and national research projects, including University of Sydney, Urbis, ARTD Consultants, Inca Consulting and Circa Research.
Patrick’s work is informed by an extensive background working in criminal justice, crime prevention and community safety. Patrick is the former Assistant Director, Crime Prevention with the (former) NSW Attorney General’s Department, where he was responsible for management of the legislatively-based crime prevention planning and funding program and a research and evaluation portfolio.
He has a Masters Degree in Criminology through the University of Sydney and is a Seasonal Teaching Fellow at University of New South Wales, teaching Crime Prevention Policy.
CURRENT & PAST CLIENTS
• Local councils including Auburn City, Bankstown City, Burwood, City of Canterbury, Cumberland City, Dubbo Regional Council, Fairfield City, Holroyd City, Liverpool City, Maitland City, Northern Beaches, Shellharbour City, Singleton and Walgett Shire (NSW) and City of Geraldton (WA)
• State and Commonwealth agencies including Western Australia Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the (former) Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
• Non-Government and philanthropic agencies including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation, Dardi Munwurro, Community Restorative Centre (CRC), Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Dusseldorp Forum, Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation, (Blue) Mountains Youth Services and Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Corporation.
