Research

The National Centre is an evidence‑informed organisation. We have commissioned an extensive body of research with leading experts and are now focused on mobilising these powerful insights, translating them into practical tools and guidance that drive real change in practice.

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Commissioned research

In-house research

Active Research

To achieve this, we focused on four key objectives:

Objective 1

Keep up to date with evidence

Objective 2

Undertake and commission high quality research and evaluations

Objective 3

Support effective dissemination and translation of evidence and research findings

Objective 4

Support the adoption of continuous improvement practices

The National Centre previously delivered a commissioned research program, funding 24 projects through a competitive process.

These projects contributed to new knowledge, practice improvement and sector capability.

Our focus is now on mobilising these findings, bringing research to life across policy, systems, and services, and ensuring it reaches the wide range of audiences working to prevent child sexual abuse.

Our research

Commissioned Research

Upskilling the community sport volunteer workforce to respond to child abuse in sport: a collaborative research project

Safeguarding
Workforce

This study will build upon a recent national survey that aimed to assess sport volunteers’ readiness to effectively respond to child abuse within the community sport context.

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Accessibility of child sexual abuse prevention in Australia

Prevention
Regional & remote

This project will investigate the accessibility of child sexual abuse prevention initiatives for children across Australia.

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Evaluating foundational training for the Victorian specialist sexual assault sector

Education
Therapeutic responses
Workforce

It is hoped this project will improve capacity within SASVic to design and deliver robust evaluations for current and future workforce development programs.

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Workforce Capability Project: Developing a workforce capability statement to underpin how workers prevent and respond to child sexual abuse across the lifespan

Prevention
Workforce

This framework will underpin future work, inclusive of guiding and embedding of capabilities for workers into different pathways and educational approaches.

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Our research

In-house Research

The National Centre conducts in‑house research, including a large national community attitudes study that surveys thousands of people across Australia to track change over time and generate critical insights that shape research direction and prevention efforts across the sector. We also undertake targeted research on emerging issues, including harmful sexual behaviours, where evidence points to increasing concern.

Supporting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse: Rapid Evidence Reviews

Victims & survivors

This agenda is a deliverable of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse, and is being informed, in part, by a series of Rapid Evidence Reviews.

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Reshaping the conversation: development of a shared language and preferred definitions guide endorsed by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse

Victims & survivors

This project created a shared language and preferred definitions guide, endorsed by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

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Building a knowledge frame for responding to the needs of children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour

Harmful sexual behaviours

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The Australian child sexual abuse attitudes, knowledge and response study

Community awareness

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The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (National Centre) respectfully acknowledges and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations and pay our respects to ancestors and Elders past and present. We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culture and lore continue to lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and acknowledge the tireless work to pursue justice outcomes for children and young people.

The National Centre supports decisions affecting people’s lives being fundamentally informed by those people. And upholds truth telling and agreement making for justice as essential components of healing.

We seek to honour the lived and living expertise of all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, harnessing all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds, and commit to substantially addressing the harm of child sexual abuse, now and well into the future.

We recognise that there are children and young people today who are experiencing sexual abuse and dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to expedite and promote their effective protection and care.

Supported by

Research

Commissioned Research

Upskilling the community sport volunteer workforce to respond to child abuse in sport: a collaborative research project

Accessibility of child sexual abuse prevention in Australia

Evaluating foundational training for the Victorian specialist sexual assault sector

Workforce Capability Project: Developing a workforce capability statement to underpin how workers prevent and respond to child sexual abuse across the lifespan

In-house Research

Supporting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse: Rapid Evidence Reviews

Reshaping the conversation: development of a shared language and preferred definitions guide endorsed by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse

Building a knowledge frame for responding to the needs of children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour

The Australian child sexual abuse attitudes, knowledge and response study

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Understanding child sexual abuse

Response to child sexual abuse

Needs of victims and survivors

Prevention of child sexual abuse

Identification of child sexual abuse

Disclosure of child sexual abuse