The Australian leg of Dr Akuch Anyieth’s international book tour for Decolonising Family Violence Legal Intervention Orders in African-Australian Communities unfolded as both an intellectual and deeply personal journey. Throughout October, leading Australian universities and institutions hosted the tour, which brought together scholars, practitioners, and community leaders who are reshaping conversations about justice, migration, and belonging.

The first launch, held at La Trobe University in Melbourne on 3 October, set the tone for what would become a moving and memorable series of engagements. The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Dr Santino Deng, a respected leader in the African Australian community and Chair of the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group at the Department of Justice, Victoria State Government. His words captured the pride and hope many felt seeing Dr Anyieth’s scholarship reach global audiences.

In conversation with Professor Supriya Singh, a distinguished scholar whose work has long examined family violence in multicultural contexts, Dr Anyieth spoke candidly about the roots of her research. She reflected on the tensions between African traditions of conflict resolution and the Australian legal system’s approach to family violence. The discussion, moderated with care and depth, highlighted how colonial legacies continue to shape legal and social understandings of harm, safety, and family. The evening concluded with a thoughtful address by Professor Anthony Collins, Dr Anyieth’s former supervisor, who underscored the importance of decolonial thinking in reimagining justice systems. The event drew more than seventy guests, including academics, community organisers, and faith leaders. Although it was not recorded, the energy in the room lingered, creating a sense that something both critical and restorative was taking place.

From Melbourne, the tour moved to Sydney, where the University of Sydney hosted the second launch on 10 October, jointly supported by the History Department and the Law School. The panel featured Professor Michael McDonnell and Dr Sarouche Razi, both of whom engaged Dr Anyieth in a rich dialogue about the book’s central themes of power, migration, and law. Among those in attendance was Elijah Buol, OAM, CEO of the Asylum Seekers Centre, whose presence spoke to the resonance of Dr Anyieth’s work across sectors concerned with justice and human rights.

Dr Anyieth also appeared on ABC Radio in Sydney to discuss her research and the broader significance of decolonising approaches to family violence intervention. The interview brought insights to a national audience, amplifying the voices and experiences of African-Australian communities that are too often absent from mainstream discourse.

On 14 October, Dr Anyieth returned to La Trobe University to deliver a guest lecture about her work as an AVReQ postdoctoral fellow. Speaking to postgraduate students and senior academics, she reflected on what it means to conduct African-centred research while being trained within Western academic institutions. Her reflections invited a reconsideration of global academic collaboration, emphasising reciprocity and intellectual humility in cross-continental partnerships.

The tour’s final event, on 15 October, was an interview on SBS Radio in Dinka, marking a poignant return to language and community. For Dr Anyieth, speaking to South Sudanese Australians, many of whom are still navigating English, was a moment of affirmation. It demonstrated that research, when rooted in lived experience, can bridge divides between academia and everyday life. “This was particularly special,” she noted, “because it reached those often described as ‘hard to reach.’ It reminded me why I began this work.”

Dr Anyieth’s Australian tour was not just a celebration of a scholarly milestone. It was a homecoming of ideas. Each event reminded those present that decolonising knowledge is not merely an academic pursuit but a moral one. It requires listening, humility, and a willingness to imagine justice otherwise.

As she continues her international tour, this Australian chapter stands as a testament to the power of scholarship that bridges continents, communities, and generations. It affirmed that the work of decolonisation is ongoing and that voices like Dr Anyieth’s continue to shape what that future might look like.