Active Research
Child safe practices using contextual safeguarding strategies
- Prevention of child sexual abuse
- Response to child sexual abuse
- Understanding child sexual abuse
Research Topic areas
- Community awareness
- Drivers of child sexual abuse
- Government & policy responses
- Intersection with other violence/victimisation
Project Duration
Start: October 2021
End: July 2024
Geographical Scope
Nation-wide
Populations
General communityWorkforce
Young adults (18-25 years)Adults (26-65 years)Older adults (>65 years)
Gender
All genders
Project Lead
Douglas Russell, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University
Project lead email: douglas.russell@acu.edu.au
Project Team
Professor Daryl Higgins, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University
A/Prof Nadine McKillop, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, University of Sunshine Coast
Dr Susan Rayment-McHugh, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, University of Sunshine Coast
Background
Protecting children from abuse is a complex process. To do it effectively, we need to know what practices are working in order to strengthen how organisations safeguard children from abuse.
The Institute of Child Protection Studies and the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at the University of the Sunshine Coast will partner with national not-for-profit organisations to conduct research to understand and evaluate what works to prevent child abuse.
The Institute of Child Protection Studies and the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at the University of the Sunshine Coast will partner with national not-for-profit organisations to conduct research to understand and evaluate what works to prevent child abuse.
Aims
This project will develop new approaches to tackle the problem of child abuse and child sexual abuse. It will specifically aim to identify a range of contextual (environmental and situational) prevention strategies that can be rolled out in a randomised control trial across a range of organisations with diverse service delivery models.
Methods
An applied, mixed-method approach will be used, using quantitative and qualitative impact measures. These will be implemented in large, diverse child welfare organisations to ensure immediate benefits to the participating organisations.
Significance and Dissemination
Findings from this project could be used to inform national policy and strengthen child-safe organisational practices. Ideally, the trialled contextual prevention strategies could be scaled-up nationally so that organisations can be safer for all.
Further Details
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Funding body:
Westpac Banking Corporation
Westpac Banking Corporation
Funding budget:
$150,000 grant
$150,000 grant
Australian Human Research Ethics Committee:
This project is subject to ethical oversight by the Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee
This project is subject to ethical oversight by the Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee
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