Improving the lives of children, young people and their families is at the heart of what we do. We do this through quality research, evaluation, training, consultation and translating knowledge for policy makers and practitioners. Nationally recognised for our expertise in child protection, we aim to make a real impact on critical social issues, child-centred practice, service systems and public policy.
Learn about what we do
News
Systemic failures identified by the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings must be addressed to...
Event
New practice framework for those working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who experience domestic and family violence and have had contact with child...
News
Passionate about children and young people and their safety? Join our team of child and youth focused researchers who are looking for someone to make a difference.
News
A Voice to Parliament will give First Nations peoples a greater say on the laws, policies and services that affect families and children. It will provide a national pla...
News
Children who are physically abused have a high likelihood of being adversely affected into adulthood.
News
Relying only on Working with Children checks is wiping our hands clean of responsibility.
News
Workers can play an important role in educating children and young people about respectful relationships.
News
Children and young people are more likely to tell someone if an adult rather than a peer is making them feel unsafe, new Australian Catholic University research shows.
News
Corporal punishment should be prohibited nationally and supported by a public education campaign and greater access to parental supports, according to a new research pa...
News
Australian-first research into the prevalence of childhood maltreatment has revealed almost two-thirds of children who experience any child abuse or neglect have been s...
News
Paramedics are an underutilised resource when it comes to safeguarding children in the home, according to a new study highlighting the need to improve paramedics’ abili...
News
Too many vulnerable young people known to child protection authorities are dying.
News
Royal Commission anniversary highlights need to also safeguard children in non-institutional family settings
News
New ACU research has given a rare voice to parents who become involved with child protection authorities during pregnancy or via infant removal.
News
We welcome your submission to present at an international congress on parenting and family intervention.
News
ACU research has identified four key themes to address to make youth feel safe in faith-based groups.
News
Sharing achievements of our dedicated and talented staff.
News
We are part of a national campaign that aims to reform Australia’s current legislation, and give parents access to alternative evidence-based parenting strategies.
News
Early findings from study show the significant negative impact of child abuse and neglect on people's lives.
News
ACU researchers have been awarded more than $2 million in Australian Research Council grants.
News
Seven new research centres will enhance ACU’s reputation in the arts, education, health, and theology and philosophy.
News
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven launched the Institute of Religion Politics and Society’s leadership series with a dialogue a...
News
Ritual, belief and habituation: Religion and religions from the axial age to the Anthropocene
News
Given the plurality of readings of the secularisation thesis, please could you give us a summary of your own take on our sub-discipline’s paradigmatic theory?
News
This article is part of the Democracy Futures series, a joint global initiative with the Sydney Democracy Network. The project aims to stimulate fresh thinking about th...
News
Prepared by Parliamentary Library Fellow Dr Tom Barnes and a research team from the Australian Catholic University, the research paper, titled ‘Transition to where?’, i...
News
This volume takes up the challenge posed by Bryan Turner, when he noted “the absence of any systematic thinking about familial relations, reproduction and citizenship” ...
News
We announced last month that Bryan S. Turner and Berna Zengin Arslan were the winners of the 2014 Sociological Review Prize for Outstanding Scholarship for their articl...
News
ACU researchers are celebrating after a strong performance in the 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment. The performance affirms ACU’s rapidly risi...
News
The terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut have elicited a disturbingly predictable series of responses. We’ve witnessed the usual political posturing, harsh military r...
News
Following the tragic terror attacks in Paris, the world turns its attention to the organisation behind the carnage. Do we now need to rethink our approach toward ISIS,...
News
The Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation and the Max Planck Society honour Hans Joas and Bryan S. Turner for their research.
News
Based on recent research in Detroit, including multiple interviews with its civic, business and political leaders, this is one of the first reports to document these co...
We work collaboratively with government and industry organisations focused on child safety, child wellbeing and child rights. Our strong relationships with researchers, policy makers in government, organisational leaders and community partners ensure that our work has impact. We contribute to national conversations as well as organisational growth by offering consultations and delivering presentations.
Our key expertise is in qualitative and quantitative research with eminent researchers, institutions and community organisations. We draw on technical tools such as surveys, evidence reviews, interviews and focus groups. And we also engage with adults and children to learn from their lived experience.
Using a variety of approaches, we address issues including children’s safety; child sexual abuse child protection services; child, youth and family services; the effects of adverse childhood experiences on mental health; youth justice and children’s courts; and public policy.
The Safeguarding Children and Young People portal links organisations to resources, training and up-to-date research, helping them create an environment that’s transparent and accountable for keeping children safe.
Visit the portalUnderstand ACU’s organisational structure and learn more about our faculties, research, staff and administrative divisions.
Browse directoratesComplete a masters by research or a PhD doctorate with us and make a valuable contribution to your field and your community.
Get startedAs a university of service, we are committed to making an impact through ongoing community engagement and volunteering.
Embrace for impactDiscover what support is available for your research, including guidance on how to get funding and manage a project.
Browse now
We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday
If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.