Best practice for parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention education in early childhood
Commissioned research
Survivor perspectives on institutional use of child sexual abuse material
- Online abuse
- Victims & survivors
- Workforce
Project Length
18 months
Project Budget
$240,415.04
Funding Stream
Research
Project Lead
- Associate Professor Campbell Wilson, AiLECS Lab, Monash University
Project Team
- Dr Gregory Rolan, AiLECS Lab, Monash University
- Dr Antonina Lewis, AiLECS Lab, Monash University
- Carol Ronken, Bravehearts Foundation
- Kelly Humphries, Monash University
Background and Aim
This project will work with victims and survivors of crimes involving child sexual abuse material to investigate attitudes and knowledge about how these materials are used in institutional contexts. This will involve the building of an evidence base and associated recommendations for survivor-centred policy and practice.
Further, this project will promote the acknowledgement and incorporation of victim and survivor perspectives in the design and implementation of tools and processes that use child sexual abuse materials during investigation or prosecution, or as data in broader crime prevention research, including development of technology solutions to counter child sexual abuse material.
Methods
The study will take a trauma-informed approach towards research co-production with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. This mixed methods approach will utilise surveys, interviews and validation discussions with victim and survivors, as well as involvement of institutional users of child sexual abuse materials, including support and advocacy organisations.
Significance
This is the first study centred on victim and survivor attitudes towards institutional use of child sexual abuse material. Addressing this gap will help to balance benefits that derive from its institutional uses against trauma risks or other impacts that may arise as a consequence of institutional retention, use and sharing of such material.
In the media
‘Held at ransom’: victim‑survivors open up about the use of child sex abuse material to fight crime article in The Conversation.
Latest research outcomes
Research report: Findings and themes
Presents key findings from victim-survivor consultations on the institutional use of child sexual abuse material and identifies major themes emerging from the research
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Research report: Calls to action and recommendations
Sets out victim-survivor informed recommendations to guide policy, practice and institutional decision-making relating to child sexual abuse material
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Project website
Provides access to project resources, findings and information about the survivor-led research program
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Research article: Survivor perspectives on institutional use of child sexual abuse material
Examines victim-survivor perspectives on the institutional use of child sexual abuse material and the implications for policy and practice
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Report: Engagement and evaluation strategy
Documents the project's engagement approach and evaluation framework for working ethically and safely with victim-survivors
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Report: Project evaluation
Presents findings from the project's evaluation, assessing participant experiences, research processes and outcomes against the project's impact framework
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