Best practice for parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention education in early childhood
Commissioned research
The dignity by design project: survivor-led system redesign
- Therapeutic responses
- Victims & survivors
- Workforce
Project Length
36 months
Project Budget
$249,866
Funding Stream
Research
Project Lead
- Professor Susan Heward-Belle, The University of Sydney
Project Team
- Dr Sarah Ciftci – University of Sydney
- Ms Hannah Mayjor – University of Sydney
- Dr Lynette Stevenson – University of Sydney
- Professor Ruth Phillips – University of Sydney
- Ms Felicity Macourt – University of Sydney
- Ms Portia Freeman – University of Sydney
- Professor Emerita Judy Cashmore – University of Sydney
- Ms Irene Wardle – University of Sydney
- Professor Rita Shackel – University of Sydney
- Professor Donna Chung – Curtin University
- Ms Darcee Schultz – Curtin University
- Ms Tamesha D’Silva – Curtin University
- Ms Kat Martawan – Curtin University
- Dr Betty Luu – Western Sydney University
- Mr Patrick Sheherdson – Independent Social Researcher
- Ms Tara Hunter – Full Stop Australia
- Ms Emily Lachevre – Full Stop Australia
- Ms Renee Lovell – NSW Health, Sydney Local Health District
- Ms Nicole Parker – NSW Health, Sydney Local Health District
- Ms Fiona Rees – NSW Health, Sydney Local Health District
Background and Aim
In partnership with survivors, this project will design, implement and evaluate innovative, place-based tools and resources to foster dignity-driven, trauma-informed, culturally safe and inclusive practice and policy development.
The project will seek to understand the messages that young victims and survivors have for practitioners and policy actors within mental health and alcohol and other drug services. Further, the contributions that participatory action research can make to policy and practice redesign and developments that better serve young victims and survivors who access these services will also be investigated. Finally, this project will examine the legislative, policy and practice barriers and enablers to dignity-based and compassionate responses to young victims and survivors.
Methods
Dignity by Design is a survivor-centred, participatory action research project that will build the capacity of policymakers, practitioners and service leaders to change systems that compound trauma. The project is a collaboration between people with lived and living experiences of child sexual abuse, professionals, policy and legal actors and researchers.
Significance
This project will generate new knowledge to better understand the needs of young victims and survivors. It will improve service design and develop innovative practice and policy tools that offer prevention and intervention pathways to protect and improve health and wellbeing.
Latest research outcomes
Report: Dignity by Design: Victim-survivor-led system redesign
Explores how embedding dignity across legislation, policy and practice can improve mental health, justice and alcohol and other drug services, with practical recommendations for survivor-led system reform
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Podcast: Dignity by Design
Hear three survivor-practitioners explore how responses can restore dignity or deepen harm
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