AVERT Newsletter

June 2025

Co-Convenors’ Message

One of the main missions of the AVERT Research Network is to act as an inclusive consortium of demonstrated research expertise.  Through our bi-annual newsletters, we are excited to be able to showcase the amazing efforts of our research members and highlight the many initiatives and events throughout the year and those to come.  Below you’ll find information on past and upcoming webinars, research member publications and AVERT event highlights. 

Speaking of events, be sure to mark your calendars for our flagship event, the AVERT Research Symposium!  This year we are pleased to partner with the VOX-Pol Centre of Excellence on Online Extremism and the Terrorism and the Terrorism and Social Media (TASM) Conference to host, “Signal or noise? Navigating the changing nature of violent extremism online” on 24-26 November 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.  Our keynote speaker this year will be Professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a world-renowned expert on violent extremism who has done pioneering work on online and offline interventions. More details about the 2025 Symposium and the link to the call for proposals can be found below.  We continue to seek ways to expand higher degree research and early career research (HDR/ERC) participation in the Symposium and encourage you to be in touch with your own students and our HDR Coordinators.  We look forward to your submissions and ideas. 

It has been amazing to witness the growth of the network since its founding in 2018.  Over the years, the network has grown to over 90 research members both in Australia and internationally and engaged countless collaborators and stakeholders.  As a growing network committed to ethical, transparent, and inclusive collaboration, exchange and engagement, we felt it was important to formalise the values that guide us in an official code of conduct.  We want to thank our Executive Committee for their leadership in this effort, particularly Dr Helen Young.  Stay tuned for a link to the AVERT Code of Conduct which will be uploaded shortly on our website.

We also want to use this opportunity to welcome one colleague and farewell another.  We would like to welcome our newest Executive Member, Professor Winnifred Louis.  Professor Louis has been an active member of the AVERT Research Network and a generous contributor to our events and symposia. Her expertise and engagement have greatly enriched our collective work, and we are thrilled to have her in this new leadership role.    

Lastly, Lydia Khalil will be stepping down from her role as Co-Convener.  Lydia has been with the AVERT Research Network since 2019 and has helped cultivate and grow the Network during her five-year tenure. Though she will be stepping down as co-Convener, Lydia will remain involved as a member of the Executive Committee. 

As always, thank you to those AVERT members who have sent us their latest news and publications, which you can read about below.   

Sincerely

Julian Droogan and Lydia Khalil

Lydia Khalil
AVERT Co-convenor

Julian Droogan
AVERT Co-convenor

Announcing the 2025 AVERT Symposium - Signal or noise? Navigating the changing nature of violent extremism online

The 2025 AVERT Symposium will be held on 24-26 November in Melbourne. This year, we are pleased to collaborate with the Vox-Pol Network of Excellence and the Terrorism and Social Media (TASM) Conference to deliver this Symposium.

The theme for this year is: Signal or noise? Navigating the changing nature of violent extremism online. The Symposium will examine the shift in the number of people who can be exposed to extremist material, who can be vulnerable, and how these factors can lead to the rise of extremist subcultures online. Resultantly, the lines between violent extremism and antisocial radicalism are blurring - leading to a need to address the differences between ‘noise’ (background activity) and ‘signals’ (meaningful threats), for both scholars and practitioners alike.

The Call for Proposals can be found here.

Proposal Submission Deadline: 14th July 2025

Phase Two of the National Research Project funded by the Department of Home Affairs: Announcement of Successful Applicants

1. Evaluation of an Autism and CVE Community of Practice for CVE Practitioners in Australia

  • Dr. Vicki Gibbs, Autism Spectrum Australia/ University of Sydney

  • Professor Debra Smith, Victoria University

  • Professor Natalie Pyszora, Department of Health, WA

  • Dr. Abigail Love, Autism Spectrum Australia

Abstract:

This project will trial and evaluate a virtual Community of Practice (CoP) to help countering violent extremism practitioners build their knowledge and confidence when working with autistic people. CVE teams across Australia support individuals at risk of radicalisation, but many practitioners lack the tools and guidance to work effectively with autistic young people. Using the ECHO model, a research-informed tele-education approach, the CoP will offer expert-led, case-based learning sessions to improve understanding of autism, including both the support needs and personal factors that may increase vulnerability or promote resilience in the context of radicalisation. The project will also evaluate the impact of the CoP using surveys, attendance data, and interviews to measure participation, satisfaction, learning, and competence. This project aims to equip CVE practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better support autistic people in their programs. It will also evaluate a scalable, evidence-based model of professional learning that can be adopted nationally.

 

2. Hate networks: Online Polarisation and Attacks on Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia

  • Dr. Andrea Giovannetti, Australian Catholic University, Sydney

  • Associate Professor Matteo Vergani, Deakin University, Melbourne

Abstract:

This project seeks to address how societal polarisation and tensions contribute to violent extremism, including attacks on people and property. In particular, this project will look at the escalation of tensions involving the Australian Jewish and Muslim communities in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.  This project will examine the relationship between online hostility targeting these communities and real-world incidents of violent extremism in Australia using advanced statistical methods. The primary aim of this project is to identify shifts in online network dynamics that can serve as reliable indicators for the risk of offline hate incidents. By doing so, the research seeks to provide actionable warnings that can help in deploying early interventions to mitigate the risk of politically motivated and prejudice motivated crime, to enhance community safety and cohesion.

 

3. Developing an evidence-based framework for Australian online violence prevention through international best practices and innovations, contextualised and validated against Australian practitioner experience

  • Moonshot CVE Ltd

  • Lise Waldek, Macquarie University, Sydney

  • Dr. Kristy Campion, Charles Sturt University, Canberra

Abstract:

The research focuses on international best practices and innovations in understanding and addressing new and emerging forms of violent extremism online, contextualised and verified through Australian stakeholders’ experience. Moonshot’s approach will draw on analyses of social media, policymaker and practitioner insights, and key learnings from global online violence prevention models. The approach seeks to contextualise the online threat environment in Australia, and identify alignment and divergences in the needs and requirements of key stakeholders involved in online prevention. Actionable insights and recommendations for policy and practitioner interventions will be developed to produce an evidence-based framework for Australian online violence prevention.

 

3. From Discourse to Violence: Disinformation, Polarised Grievances, and AI and Forensic Linguistics for CVE

  • Dr. Awni Etaywe, Charles Darwin University

  • Professor Mamoun Alazab, Charles Darwin University

  • Dr. Kate Macfarlane, Charles Darwin University

  • Dr. Abdullah Alamoodi, Charles Darwin University

Abstract:

This project investigates how disinformation, social polarisation, and grievances contribute to violent extremism and radicalisation. It examines how these elements inform extremist appeals, recruitment processes, and justification strategies, and how they can be effectively identified and countered. Central to this inquiry is decoding extreme stances and understanding the role of discourse as a performative tool that mobilises in-group affiliations, forges convergent and divergent bonds, fosters extreme loyalty and identity fusion, and legitimises violence. Focusing on jihadist and extreme far-right ideologies—along with relevant conspiracy theories that often underpin disinformation—the study analyses the patterning and functioning of linguistic and semiotic constructions of extremist narratives within specialised corpora of manifestos, magazines, and propaganda materials. Employing an interdisciplinary AI-assisted forensic semiotic framework, the project seeks to uncover the discursive and rhetorical mechanisms that fuel radicalisation and violent extremist communication.

 

4. Disrupting disinformation ecologies to address (violent) extremism through city-based initiatives

  • Prof. Helen Sullivan, Australian National University (ANU)

  • Dr. Vivian Gerrand, Deakin University

  • Ika Trijsburg, Australian National University

  • Associate Professor Mario Peucker, Victoria University

Abstract:

This project aims to tackle current disinformation dynamics by identifying examples of local ‘grey’, alternative narrative responses that meet people where they are and support critical-thinking and social capital resource allocation. Local, city-based and alternative narrative approaches to addressing disinformation ecosystems represent a compelling way forward within this predicament. These whole-of-society approaches respond to and disrupt disinformation ecologies, thereby also serving to depolarise communities, restoring social cohesion and trust in governments. Drawing on our long-term research in these areas, our project will identify targeted high impact disinformation interventions through a global survey and through two expert-convenings in the United Kingdom and in Australia, bringing together world-leading best practices to understand, through a cities-based lens, the specific ways in which evolving disinformation ecologies are driving polarisation and (violent) extremism, and how governments can most effectively respond to them.

 

5. Preventing (Conspiracy-Fuelled) Violent Extremism in Australia: Evidence, Interventions, and Actionable Insights

  • Dr. Bettina Rottweiler, University of Nebraska at Omaha

  • Dr. Caitlin Clemmow, University College London

  • Professor Troy McEwan, Swinburne University

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of social media, and the growth of anti-institutional movements have led to declining levels of trust in our political and government institutions and to increasing social polarisation within our societies. This is compounded by political elites and (social) media figures increasingly propagating extreme rhetoric and disinformation. We focus on conspiracy theories as a strategic mode of delivering disinformation to large audiences, contributing to important real-world consequences, including violent extremism. In Australia, the 2022 anti-authority protests demonstrate how conspiratorial and extremist narratives can drive criminal action, and in some instances, violence (Bavas & Nguyen, 2021; Khalil & Roose 2023). Drawing on international best practice frameworks, will examine and define the complex relationship between conspiracy theories, social polarisation, and grievance development - unpacking their functional relevance to violent extremist ideologies leading to susceptibility to violent extremism in Australia. Next, we will systematically review the evidence for interventions designed to counter belief in conspiracy theories and summarise this as an accessible and interactive Evidence & Gap Map and translate the project’s findings into actionable insights for policy and practice.

 

We look forward to seeing the valuable contributions these research projects will make to policy and practice in Australia.

We are pleased to announce the successful applicants for Phase 2 of the National Research Project, Countering Violent Extremism research that supports policy and practice in Australia, funded by the Department of Home Affairs. The AVERT Research Network received a strong response from researchers and practitioners across the country and globally. We thank all applicants for their interest and commitment to advancing knowledge in this critical area. We are excited to share the following successful projects:

AVERT Impact Posts

This year, we have a goal of revamping our commentary page and are putting a call out to our members and followers, particularly our HDR colleagues, to consider submitting pitches to for AVERT Commentary pieces.  These commentaries are a great way to spotlight research findings, explore important questions or consider topical issues in a concise and accessible format.

Please send through your pitches to adi-avert@deakin.edu.au

New Members

New Executive Committee Member Prof Winnifred Louis

We are delighted to announce that Professor Winnifred Louis has joined the AVERT Executive Committee as of February this year. Her expertise and engagement have greatly enriched our collective work, and we are thrilled to have her in this new leadership role.  

Winnifred R. Louis (PhD McGill, 2001) is a Professor in Psychology at the University of Queensland. She has authored more than 140 scholarly publications, with her research focusing on how identity and social norms influence decision-making. Her work spans a diverse range of contexts, including political violence and terrorism, health behaviour, and environmental action.

New Research Members

Dr. Josep Garcia-Coll
Freie Universität Berlin

Professor Piers Howe
University of Melbourne

Dr. Christienne Javier
Australian National University

Kosta Lucas
University of Notre Dame

Dr. James Gacek
University of Regina

Dr. Amir Hamza Marwan
IBA Karachi, Pakistan

AVERT Seminar and Webinar Series

The AVERT Seminar/Webinar series has featured important and timely research over the past few months.

February 2025

Cognitive And Behavioral Radicalization: An Explanatory Split with Dr. Rik Peels

This webinar challenges the idea that cognitive radicalization (extreme beliefs) and behavioral radicalization (violent actions) are fundamentally separate. This is because the dichotomy is based on limited evidence—mainly focusing on individual beliefs about violence and actual acts of violence. It also overlooks the fact that radicalization isn’t just about individuals, but that groups, institutions, and even governments can also radicalize in both thought and action. Indeed, the connection between extreme beliefs and violent behaviour might be stronger at the group level than previously assumed. Drawing from social epistemology, group psychology, and ethics, Dr. Peels explains why this connection matters and addresses common objections. He then explores what a more nuanced approach to understanding radicalization could mean for research and policy.

March 2025

2025 Global Terrorism Index Launch, with the Institute for Economics and Peace

This presentation highlights the key findings from the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) which measures the impact of terrorism across 163 countries and independent territories. The presentation focuses on the findings of the index in 2024, trends in terrorism since 2007, the rise of lone actor terrorism, terrorism and conflict in the Sahel, and the resurgence of IS affiliate groups globally.

Panel discussion: Emerging Global Perspectives on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

This webinar featured contributors to Crime & Delinquency's special issue on terrorism and violent extremism. The panel explored global P/CVE strategies through diverse regional case studies and methodological approaches, underscoring the importance of continued collaboration in the field. Dr. Marketa Kocmanová examined how violent extremism can be countered through community ties, ideology, and family attachment, using ethnographic and netnographic methods to highlight intra-community protective factors and challenge assumptions about marginalized groups. Dr. Jordan McSwiney discussed how violent extremism threatens the public sphere and proposed a democratic resilience framework to counter extremism while upholding democratic values. Dr. Josep Garcia-Coll evaluated the effectiveness of tailoring P/CVE programs to individual users versus broader contexts, concluding that user-specific approaches are more impactful in enhancing program outcomes.

April 2025

How (Not) to Argue with a Sovereign Citizen, with Dr. Keiran Hardy

Sovereign citizens are individuals who believe, based on false legal ideas, that they are not subject to government laws. Although their arguments often make little legal sense, they are increasingly disrupting police work and court systems in Australia and beyond. This webinar will include a presentation from Dr. Keiran Hardy regarding a recent study based on body-worn camera footage from the Queensland Police Service (QPS), showing real interactions between officers and self-identified sovereign citizens. Dr. Hardy will briefly explain the core beliefs behind the movement, explore the social and personal challenges—such as unemployment, disability, mental health issues, and substance use—that may draw people into this worldview, and discuss how police can safely and effectively manage these encounters. While media and academic focus often highlights the strange aspects of this movement, the footage reveals a deeper story: a vulnerable and often misunderstood group. This research is part of a broader ARC-funded project on conspiracy extremism in Australia, based at the Griffith Criminology Institute and the University of Queensland.

Violence escalation and inhibition during far-right protest waves, with Dr. Joel Busher

This presentation by Dr. Joel Busher examined how interactions between far-right protesters, counter-protesters, and other actors can either trigger or prevent violence. Drawing on a CREST-funded study of four high-profile far-right protests in the UK, Germany, and the US, Dr. Busher identifies violence-enabling and violence-inhibiting mechanisms, highlighting the need to analyse both for a comprehensive understanding of protest dynamics. By integrating situational and broader conflict analysis, Dr. Busher’s study revealed blind spots in movement-centric models and underscores the role of protest ecologies—whether movements are marginalised or emboldened—in shaping violence. Recognising these pathways can enhance how we analyse and respond to far-right protests. This presentation is based on a co-authored paper with Julia Ebner (Oxford University), Zsófia Hacsek (Coventry University), Gareth Harris (independent researcher), and Graham Macklin (CREX, University of Oslo).

May 2025

The Disbanding of Jemah Islamiyah: Causes, Ideological Revisions, and Prospects for the Future, with Dr. Julie Chernov Hwang

How do terrorist organisations end? In June 2024, Jemaah Islamiyah formally disbanded, choosing to dissolve in order to safeguard the community that sustained it. During this presentation, Dr. Chernov Hwang examines the strategic decision-making and ideological shifts that informed this choice. The process of tactical and ideological reassessment of the use of violence that facilitated the decision to demobilize will be discussed. Dr. Chernov Hwang also considers the legitimacy of the disbandment and explore potential future directions for the community.

Understanding this intersection is critical for shaping effective countering violent extremism (CVE) policies and programs. Featuring contributors to Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11 (Bloomsbury, 2025), this panel will delve into a range of topics, including the role of Orthodox Christianity in far-right ideologies, the emergence of ‘conspirituality’ and militant wellness, and the strategic deployment of religious discourse by radical-right movements in the United States and Israel.

Online event

·         Wednesday, 18 June 2025, 07.30 - 08.45 PM EDT

·         Thursday, 19 June 2025, 09.30 - 10.45 AM AEST

Upcoming Webinars

Rethinking Religion and Radicalisation: The role(s) of religion in far-right extremist movements

While considerable attention has been paid to Islam in discussions of religion and terrorism, far less scrutiny has been directed at how extreme-right movements invoke religion, through symbols, narratives, and beliefs, to advance their agendas. This panel will explore what Alejandro Beutel and Arie Perliger (2025) describe as “the nexus of religious extremism and far-right militancy,” shedding light on an underexamined yet increasingly relevant dimension of violent extremism.

Australian Festival of Democracy - AVERT Panel

On 4 June 2025, the AVERT Research Network convened a panel titled "Democracy and its Discontents – Extremism’s Role and Impact on Democracy" as part of the 3rd Annual Conference on Australian Democracy and Human Rights, held at the University of Melbourne. The session was chaired by AVERT Co-Convenor Lydia Khalil and featured expert insights from Professor Julian Droogan (Macquarie University), Associate Professor Emily Corner (ANU), Dr Levi West (ANU), and Dr Jade Hutchinson (Charles University).

The discussion explored pressing challenges at the intersection of extremism and democratic resilience. Panellists addressed questions around the mainstreaming of extremist ideologies, the rise of grievance-based radicalisation, online ecosystems as drivers of extremism, and the role of foreign influence operations in undermining democratic institutions. The session concluded with a forward-looking question inviting each speaker to propose interventions that could help safeguard democratic systems from these evolving threats.

AVERT was pleased to contribute to this timely and thought-provoking event, which brought together researchers, practitioners, and community members committed to strengthening democracy and human rights in Australia and beyond.

Member News

Publications

AVERT Research Members are active researchers in the field of preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism. Read some of their latest publications here.

Amin Asfari
Gacek, J., Jochelson, R., Asfari, A., Corcoran, L. Ranieri, M. ‘Youth and Young Terror: Canadian Case Law and the Socio-Carceral Dynamics of Youth and Young Offenders Convicted of Terrorism Offences’, Crime and Delinquency (2024)  Read

Mia M Bloom

Bloom, M. Veiled Threats: Women and Global Jihad (2025)  Read
Dmello, J., Bloom M., and Moskalenko, S. ‘LGBTQ+ Victimization by Extremist Organizations: Charting a New Path for Research’,  PS: Political Science & Politics (2025) Read

Kurt Braddock
Braddock, K. ‘Using deep learning neural networks to predict individual violent vs. non-violent extremist behaviors,’ Terrorism and Political Violence (2024) Read
 
Braddock, K., Hughes, B., Goldberg, B., Miller-Idriss, C. ‘Engagement in subversive online activity predicts susceptibility to persuasion by far-right extremist propaganda,’ New Media & Society (2024) Read 
 
Braddock, K. ‘The pen and the sword: Cognition, emotion, communication, and violent radicalisation,’ in Busher J., Marsden, S., and Malkki, L. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Radicalisation and Countering Radicalization (2025) Read

Kristy Campion
 
Campion, K., and Colvin, E., ‘Community, More than Conviction: Understanding Radicalisation Factors for Young People in Australia,’ Studies in Conflict &Terrorism (2025) Read

Campion, K., and Colvin, E., ‘Foreign and Familiar: Recruitment Pathways of Young People Engaged with Extremism in Australia,’ Perspectives on Terrorism (2024) Read
 

Jared Dmello

Dmello, J., Bloom M., and Moskalenko, S. ‘LGBTQ+ Victimization by Extremist Organizations: Charting a New Path for Research’, PS: Political Science & Politics (2025) Read

Dmello, J. ‘Innovations and Advancements in Criminological Approaches to Terrorism and Violent Extremism’,  Crime & Delinquency (2025) Read

 

James Gacek

Gacek, J., Jochelson, R., Asfari, A., Corcoran, L., & Raineri, M. ‘Youth and Young Terror: Canadian Case Law and the Socio-Carceral Dynamics of Youth and Young Offenders Convicted of Terrorism Offences’,  Crime & Delinquency (2025) Read
  
Asfari, A. & Gacek, J. ‘The Diversity-Dissent Paradox: Navigating Police Recruitment Challenges Amidst Campus Protest Dynamics,’ Journal of Criminology (2024) Read

Vivian Gerrand

Gerrand, V. ‘Mapping conspiritual radicalization: The intersection of conspiracy movements, spirituality and radicalization,' in Grossman, M., and Hellyer, H. (eds.), Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11 (2025) Read

Gerard Gill

Gill, G.  ‘“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re all domestic terrorists”: Incels on the Bondi Attack,’ GNET Insights (2025) Read

Michele Grossman

Grossman, M., and Hellyer, H. A. (eds.) Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11. London: Bloomsbury. (2025) (Open Access) Read
 
Grossman, M., and Hellyer H. A. 'Introduction: Remapping the terrain of religion, radicalization and extremist violence', in Grossman, M., and Hellyer, H. (eds.), Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11. (2025) Read
 
Fisher, T., Peucker M., and Grossman, M. Mapping far-right extremism intervention capacity in Victoria, Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies. (2025) Read

Alam Khan

Ruiz Estrada M. A., and Khan. A. ‘A Comprehensive Simulation of the Russia-Ukraine Armed Conflict: Applying the Post-War Economic Impact Simulator (PEI-Simulator),’ Journal of Global Trade, Ethics and Law (2025) Read


Iqbal, M., Khan, A., Khan, D., Azra, and Ahmad, S. ‘Does Food Insecurity Lead to Terrorism: An Economic Perspective of South Asian Countries,’ in International Journal of Business and Economic Affairs (2024) Read


Ahmad, N., Khan, A., ul Haq, I., Khalid, M. H., and Ahmad, S. ‘The Impact of Terrorism on International Trade: A Panel Study for SAARC Countries,’ Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE) (2024) Read

Lydia Khalil

Khalil, L. ‘‘Orthodoxy or Death’: The embrace of Orthodox Christianity by the modern far right,’ in Grossman, M., and Hellyer, H. (eds.), Rethinking Religion and Radicalization: Terrorism and Violence Twenty Years After 9/11 (2025) Read

Khalil, L., Duckworth, M., Bennett, N. Crisis Points: countering violent extremism under a state of emergency’ Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (2025) Read

Winnifred Louis

Selvanathan, H. P., Leidner, B., Syropoulos, S., Louis, W., Adelman, L., Baka, A., Bauer, C., Blikmans, M., Becker, M., Beran, E., Bilewicz, M., Chekroun, P., Greitemeyer, T., Hannover, B., Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Li, M., Lindholm, T., Mros, T., Paladino, M. P., Papadopoulou, M., Rovenpor, D. R., Sadus, K., Vaes, J., van Hiel, A., and van Zomeren, M. ‘Far-right movements in the Western world: How media exposure relates to normative beliefs and attitudes toward the far-right’, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations (2025) Read

Syafiq, M., Cherney, A., and Louis, W. R. ‘From a jihadist into an agent against violent extremism: a case study of self-transformation,’  Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (2024) Read
 
Wibisono, S., Louis, W. R., & Jetten, J. (2024). ‘Willingness to engage in religious collective action: The role of group identification and identity fusion’, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 47, 1519-1532, Read

Stuart Macdonald

Macdonald, S. and Hall, J. 'Publicising terrorism in private: criminal law, online safety and the meaning of "public communications,"’, Law Quarterly Review (2025) Read

Kristina Murphy
 
Murphy, K. ‘Policing conspiracy theorists: the importance of procedural justice policing and trust’, Policing: An International Journal (2025) Read

Murphy, K., Mulholland, T. and Hardy, K. ‘Down the “rabbit hole” of conspiracy-fueled White nationalism: Linking outgroup threat and uncertainty to conspiracy beliefs and prejudice toward immigrants,’ Studies in Conflict & Terrorism (2024) Read
 
Ali, M. and Murphy, K. ‘Fuelling contempt for police: explaining why procedural injustice and police ineffectiveness damage Muslims’ trust in police,’ Policing and Society (2024) Read
 
Murphy, K., Belton, E., Cherney, A., Hardy, K. and Shakespeare, E. The Australian Trust in Government’ Survey: Technical Report (2024) Read
 

Mario Peucker


Peucker, M. Democracy Strikes Back: Understanding and Countering the Rise of the Far-Right (2024) Read

Alexandra Phelan

 
Phelan, A. R. The Combination of All Forms of Struggle: Insurgent Legitimation and State Response to FARC (2025) Read

Matteo Vergani

Vergani, M., Giovannetti, A., and Goodhardt, D. Tracking the 2023 Wave of Anti-Trans and Anti-Drag Mobilisation in Australia (2025) Read

Andrew Zammit

Zammit, A. "Making sense of alleged AQAP-Houthi cooperation: local pragmatism or further accommodation between al-Qaeda and Iran?" (2025) Read

Shannon Zimmerman

Zimmerman, S. "A Feminist Foreign Policy Approach to Counter-terrorism," Australian Feminist Foreign Policy Coalition, (2024) Read

Awards and recognition

AVERT Members are some of the top researchers in their field. AVERT is proud to share the awards and recognition they receive.

Mia M Bloom

Received the ACJS (association for criminal justice studies) lifetime achievement award for terrorism and bias crimes.

Jared Dmello

Appointed as Media Liaison for the School of Social Sciences in recognition of the high volume of media attention from around the world.

Critical Criminal Justice Scholar of the Year Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (March 2025).

John Horgan

Received the 2024 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. According to the official FBI statement: “Dr. Horgan has not only been a trusted collaborator with the FBI, but his research has also been instrumental in deepening our understanding of extremist psychology, thereby enhancing the safety of our communities,” said Paul Brown, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. “Congratulations, Dr. Horgan! Your dedication and pursuit of excellence have made a lasting impact, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you.”

Alexandra Phelan

Promoted to Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, commencing 1 July 2025.

Matteo Vergani

Launched the Tackling Hate Lab, as Associate Editor of Terrorism and Political Violence, which uses AI to tackle hate and extremism (www.tacklinghate.org)

Andrew Zammit

Appointed to the Victorian Government's Expert Advisory Committee on Countering Violent Extremism.

Opportunities

The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences meeting to be held in March 2026 will be themed "Crises Across the Criminal Justice Landscape: The Nexus of Governance and Responsibility", with a special focus on extremism, terrorism, and security. Submissions due September 26, 2025.

Call for Papers: VOX-Pol Next Generation Network Conference 2025

We are pleased to announce the VOX-Pol Next Generation Network Conference, a community of early-career researchers (ECRs) working on issues related to violent online extremism in its many forms. The conference will be held September 25-26th, 2025 at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

The conference will explore broadly-defined contemporary challenges in online extremism research, including the evolution of extremist narratives, platform governance, algorithmic amplification, cross-platform strategies, and any other key socio-technical dynamics.

Submission Deadline: June 25th, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: July 2nd, 2025

Registration Deadline: August 15th, 2025
Conference Dates: September 25-26th, 2025

Call for Insights: Highlighting New Voices

GNET are seeking proposals from PhD students researching the nexus of technology, violent extremism, and/or terrorism. These Insights will be commissioned as part of an upcoming series to highlight new and emerging academic voices in the field.

This series aims to highlight new and emerging academic voices in the field and is intended for those actively enrolled in PhD programs. We particularly encourage women and students from underrepresented regions to submit proposals.

 



Get in touch

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about AVERT’s activities. You can reach us at adi-avert@deakin.edu.au