Active Research

Evaluation of the Multi-Agency Investigation & Support Team

Response to child sexual abuse

Needs of victims and survivors

Research Topic areas

Domestic & family violence
Government & policy responses
Intersection with other violence/victimisation
Justice & legal responses
Mental health
Therapeutic responses

Project Duration

Start: April 2024

End: August 2024

Geographical Scope

Populations

Victims and survivorsParents & caregiversWorkforce

Young adults (18-25 years)Adults (26-65 years)

Gender

All genders

Project Lead

Dr James Herbert, Centre for Social Impact - University of South Australia

Dr David O'Shaughnessy, University of Western Australia

Project lead email: james.herbert@uwa.edu.au

Project Team

Dr Leanne Lester, University of Western Australia

Background

In 2015 a pilot of an integrated multi-agency team (MIST) commenced in Armadale, Western Australia, which aimed to improve the holistic response to child sexual abuse. This pilot involved the WA Police, Parkerville Children and Youth Care, Department of Child Protection and Family Support (now Department of Communities), and the Child Protection Unit from Princess Margaret Hospital. A 2016 evaluation found that caregivers were highly satisfied with the response, and accessed a range of specialist services as a result of the pilot. A comparison with usual practice indicated that all stages of the criminal justice process occurred significantly faster (Herbert & Bromfield, 2020, 2021). MIST has continued and has since expanded to two sites. This evaluation occurs in the context of significant change to the broader response to child sexual abuse in Western Australia, as well as changes to the MIST model.

Aims

a) Reach a clear mutual understanding of the MIST model and how it differs to Usual Practice for the Perth Metro area across all stakeholders to facilitate the evaluation of the implementation, process and outcomes of the model.
b) Inform ongoing operational improvements through regular progress reporting to teams and key stakeholders (e.g., sharing preliminary findings with MIST clinicians, team leaders, CEO of PCYC, Detective Inspector Sex Crimes, Detective Sergeant Child Abuse Squad).
c) Examine evidence of implementation effectiveness and examine the contribution of the model to improved outcomes for children and families.
d) Investigate possible impact measures to implement that would allow MIST to monitor the contribution of the program to long-term outcomes for young people and their families and comparison to usual practice in the Perth metro area.

Methods

This initial process/implementation evaluation will draw on interviews with MIST detectives and interviewers from Child Abuse Squad (WA Police) and staff from Parkerville Children and Youth Care. To obtain an understanding of practice as usual, interviews will be sought from equivalent positions outside of MIST. The evaluation will also seek interviews with an adult lived experience panel, that has had direct experience with the MIST response. Administrative data from Parkerville will be obtained to examine the range of support and therapeutic service responses provided to clients.

Significance and Dissemination

Multi-agency responses (e.g., Barnahus, Children’s Advocacy Centres) to child sexual abuse have a reasonable evidence base for improving the quality and experience of the criminal justice response and improving the accessibility of counseling and therapeutic services (Herbert & Bromfield 2017). However, the potential impacts of implementing a multi-agency response heavily depend on context, particularly the degree to which the new intervention is distinct from existing practice. This phase of the evaluation will assist the development of the program by more clearly identifying and documenting how the MIST operates, and how it is distinct from usual practice. This will contribute to the updating and development of the theory of change for the program, which will be critical for productively exploring how to evaluate the impact of MIST. The evaluation will also obtain critical information about user experiences with the program, and what could be improved, along with service data that will outline what participants received as part of the MIST response. Along with informing the approach for measuring impact, the evaluation is also expected to contribute to informing the ongoing development of the response to child sexual abuse in the state.

Further Details

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Funding body:
Stan Perron Charitable Trust

Australian Human Research Ethics Committee:
University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee

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