Learning from victims and survivors about what helps disclosure and responses to child sexual abuse

Associate Professor Lynne McPherson, Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University

Professor Anne Graham, Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University

Associate Professor Kathomi Gatwiri, Southern Cross University

Darlene Rotumah, Gnibi College of Australian Indigenous Peoples, Southern Cross University

Dr Corina Modderman, Rural Health School, La Trobe University

Jaime Chubb, Centre Against Violence

Historically, those with lived experience of child sexual abuse have not had a voice to improve responses to disclosure, raising urgent questions about how children, young people and adult victims and survivors are listened and responded to. This co-designed project will collaborate with victims and survivors to learn about disclosure, the practices that help or hinder disclosure, and critically, what support is needed at the point of disclosure and beyond. Victims and survivors, their family members and professionals will be consulted to identify what works to improve responses, advancing the understanding of child sexual abuse disclosure processes, thereby improving service systems capacity to listen, hear and respond appropriately.

A four phased, mixed methods design will be utilised, including a policy and literature analysis, interviews with 50 young people and 10 adults who have experienced child sexual abuse, eight focus groups with adults who have responded to disclosure, and a survey of young victims and survivors, community members with experience as supporters following disclosure and professionals.

This project’s participatory approach engages victims and survivors, their supporters and professional practitioners to mobilise lived experience knowledge to co-produce communication tools, education campaigns and professional development to improve responses to children, young people and adults who have experienced child sexual abuse. The project will empower victims and survivors to raise concerns, disclose and seek help.