Until now, prevention strategies have mainly focused on the individual, such as high-risk adults, and on risk factors associated with children.

We need to extend the focus beyond the individual, to include social contexts and immediate settings in which abuse occurs. Contextual prevention aims to make these diverse contexts safer for children. Some contexts provide conditions that are conducive to child sexual abuse and pose greater risk than others. When those contextual conditions are altered, children’s safety can be strengthened. 

This symposium will be of interest to professionals working in child welfare, child protection, residential care, family services, education and other youth-serving organisations. Hear presentations from leading researchers on how to advance organisational child-safe practices using contextual safeguarding strategies. It will be hosted by Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS) and Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit (SVRPU), University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).

If you are unable to attend, you can still register and receive a link to a recording of the symposium.

Symposium details

1. Approaches used to prevent child sexual abuse

Prof Daryl Higgins, Director ICPS, ACU

2. Implementation of the contextual prevention approach

Dr Susan Rayment-McHugh, Co-leader SVRPU, UniSC

3. Challenges in implementing contextual prevention

A/Prof Nadine McKillop, Co-leader SVRPU, UniSC

4. Future directions

Douglas Russell, Senior Researcher, ICPS, ACU

Date and time

Tuesday 21 May

12:00-2:00 pm (AEST)

ZOOM link will be sent once you register

Note: Symposium will be recorded and sent to anyone who has registered

Register your interest via ACU Redcap subscription platform: 

Register here