Best practice for parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention education in early childhood
Commissioned research
Upskilling the community sport volunteer workforce to respond to child abuse in sport: a collaborative research project
- Safeguarding
- Workforce
Project Length
13 months
Project Budget
$26,400.00
Funding Stream
Research
Project Lead
- Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University
Project Team
- Dr Mary Woessner, Victoria University
- Prof Alex Parker, Victoria University
- A/Prof Fiona McLachlan, Victoria University
Background and Aim
Sport presents unique challenges in preventing and responding to child abuse that may occur in this context. The Australia community sport sector is predominantly comprised of volunteers – in combination with an underfunded sector and the time-poor nature of volunteering, ensuring that the workforce is appropriately trained is challenging. This is problematic from a child abuse prevention and broader public health perspective, given the majority of Australian children play sport at a community level.
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. Building upon the survey findings, this investigation aims to co-design innovative and evidence-based interventions and initiatives to increase the capacity of the sport volunteer workforce to safeguard and respond to child abuse.
Methods
This project will use a range of participatory methodologies, including a world cafe forum with 50 end-users, extensive lived experience consultation, and resource development.
Significance
It is anticipated that, beyond the findings from the national survey, this project will produce a report on upskilling the community sport volunteer workforce, a series of recommendations for industry, and a practical guide on involving people with lived experience in prevention and response efforts.
In the media
‘Community sport volunteers need better support to keep children safe from abuse’ article in The Conversation.
Latest research outcomes
Research article: The capabilities, opportunities and motivations of sport volunteers to respond to child abuse: Results from a national survey in Australia
Examines the capabilities, opportunities and motivations of community sport volunteers to respond to child abuse, drawing on findings from a national Australian survey
View >
Research paper: The inclusion of lived experience knowledge in research on the prevention of child abuse in sport
Explores the value of lived experience knowledge in shaping research, policy and practice approaches to preventing child abuse in sport
View >
Infographic: Priority action for safer sport
Provides a visual summary of recommendations to strengthen child safeguarding through educational initiatives, cultural change campaigns and sport
View >
Infographic: Key findings from a sport volunteer survey on child safeguarding
Provides a visual summary of national survey findings on community sport volunteers' readiness and support needs to respond to child abuse
View >
ABC Radio show: Sport groups fail to report child abuse
Examines why many community sport organisations fail to report child abuse and highlights opportunities to strengthen safeguarding responses
View >
Report: Upskilling the community sport volunteer workforce to respond to disclosures of child abuse in sport
Explores strategies to strengthen the capability of community sport volunteers to recognise and respond safely to disclosures of child abuse
View >