17 August: Films and video games have age classifications. Should books? by Michelle Wakim (ABC News and Behind the News)    
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15 August: States unite on working with children checks as child predators face nationwide ban by  Clare Armstrong and Elizabeth Pike (Daily Telegraph, paywall)
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15 August: ‘Honeypot’ profiles of 13-year-old girls were posted online. Predators flocked to one by Amber Schultz (Sydney Morning Herald, paywall)
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13 August: Should Books Have Age Classifications? by Michelle Wakim (ABC Behind the News) 
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7 August: Perth Royal Show organisers won't reveal Working with Children Check rules after sex offender scandal by Rebecca Trigger (ABC News) 
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5 August: Study sheds light on what work can be done to protect children in religious institutions by Albert McKnight (Region.com.au)
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3 August: ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’: the Australian push to have all adopted people told their full history and identity by Claire Moodie (The Guardian)         
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24 July: Qld youth suicide rates spark calls for urgent social media crackdown by Rose Innes (Courier Mail, paywall)
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24 July: Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction by Anna Houlahan (Illawarra Mercury, paywall)
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24 July: Childcare centres across NSW face allegations of abuse and neglect by Suzan Giuliani (Daily Telegraph, paywall)
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23 July: Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction by Anna Houlahan (Newcastle Herald, paywall)            
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22 July: ACU expert backs 'one-strike' policy for convicted sex offenders applying for WWCC (Daily Telegraph, News Corp's national Keep Them Safe campaign, paywall)        
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22 July: Religious leaders defended pedophile priests, study finds by Natash Brita (The Australian, paywall)                                  
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22 July: Sex offenders continue to appeal Working with Children Check refusals at NCAT (Daily Telegraph, paywall)
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22 July: Keep Them Safe: Church volunteers ‘fatigued’ by ‘disjointed’ child protection policy patchwork (Daily Telegraph, paywall)
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21 July: Raunchy ‘BookTok’ novels normalise sex assault, domestic violence by Rebecca Borg (Herald Sun, paywall)
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20 July: Keep them safe: Parents, premiers and experts join campaign for a national children’s check register (Daily Telegraph, paywall)
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17 July 2025: Safeguarding barriers continue in religious settings, new research shows (Catholic Leader)
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17 July 2025: ACU study: Taking abused children out of home does not impact mental health (Catholic Weekly)
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17 July 2025: We owe it to our children to advocate for meaningful change to keep them safe, Op-Ed by Gabby Hunt (Canberra Times, paywall)
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17 July 2025: Safeguarding barriers continue in religious settings – new research with religious leaders Gabby Hunt interviewed by Saskia Mabin (ABC Morning Radio Canberra, starts at time stamp 1:10:15)
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16 July 2025: Convicted sex offender coaching kids in NSW without Working with Children Check by Suzan Giuliani (Daily Telegraph, paywall) 
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13 July 2025: Private tutors operating in NSW without Working with Children Checks by Suzan Giuliani (Daily Telegraph, paywall) 
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13 July 2025: Private tutors operating in NSW without Working with Children Checks by Suzan Giuliani (Herald Sun, paywall)
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13 July 2025: Outside care [out-of-home care] no fix for abuse, Lottie Harris interview with Rebecca Whitfield-Baker (The Sunday Mail)

10 July 2025: Discussion of CCTV Daryl Higgins interviewed by Alice Matthews (666 ABC Canberra Afternoons with Alice Matthews, starts at time stamp 18.50)
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9 July 2025: ‘Can’t guarantee the safety of children’: Childcare staff sound alarm on regulation gap (Herald Sun, paywall)
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9 July 2025: Australian childcare operator to install CCTV after abuse claims by Lana Lam (BBC)
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4 July 2025: Childcare assault allegations, Daryl Higgins interview with Phillip Brandel (ABC Radio Far North Queensland)

3 July 2025: Childcare assault allegations, Daryl Higgins interview with Steve Price (Sky News)

2 July 2025: Childcare assault allegations, Daryl Higgins interview with Rachel Hayter (ABC News Radio)

2 July 2025: Difficult, necessary chats with kids and The difficult but necessary conversation parents must have, by Zoe De Koning (Geelong Advertiser and Herald Sun, paywall)
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1 July 2025: Childcare assault allegations, Daryl Higgins interview with Laura Turner, introduced by Heidi Murphy (9News Afternoon Briefing and 6pm Bulletin)

1 July 2025: Childcare assault allegations, Daryl interview with Brett McLeod (9News)

1 July 2025: How can we better safeguard our children in childcare? Daryl Higgins interview with Tom Connell (SkyNews)

17 June: Safeguarding barriers continue in religious settings, new research shows (Catholic Leader)
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1 June 2025: More than 113,000 Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) reports made to DCJ (Daily Telegraph - pay wall)
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19 May 2025: Calls for federal government to prioritise safety over cost in early childhood education (The Wire: interview starts at time stamp at 13:30)
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19 May 2025: The three-steps that can help better safeguard children in childcare (666 ABC Radio Canberra, Afternoons with Alice Matthews, story starts at time stamp at 6:38)
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16 May 2025: With a new minister for early childhood education, what can the federal government do to make centres safer? (The Conversation)
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12 May 2025: Should it still be legal for Australians to smack their children? (ABC Far North Queensland Radio, mornings with Susan Graham-Ryan, interview starts at time stamp at 7:09)
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9 May 2025: They're a childhood rite of passage, so why are more parents saying 'no' to sleepovers? (The Sydney Morning Herald)
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2 May 2025: New ACU research aims at maximising safety in children's sport (Catholic Weekly)
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13 April 2025: Qld schools using breathalysers at functions with rise of party culture (Courier Mail - pay wall)
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12 April 2025: Parents and spectators need to be better sports at kids' games - Wild brawl erupts among parents during Manningham United v Rowville Eagles junior soccer match (Herald Sun - pay wall)
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2 April 2025: Sideline behaviour' putting kids' mental health at risk (The Educator)
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23 August 2024: Gender diverse persons need acceptance, love, says bishop following maltreatment study (The Catholic Weekly, Marilyn Rodrigues)
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9 August 2024: Response to ACU research findings concerning childhood sexual abuse in religious organisations (The Record)
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7 August 2024: New data show sharp fall in clergy abuse, with majority of incidents in Catholic settings (National Catholic Reporter, Marilyn Rodrigues)
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6 August 2024: ACMS religious leaders findings: Study reveals prevalence of child sexual abuse in religious settings (Phys.org)
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5 August 2024: Close to 90,000 Australians were sexually abused as a child at a religious organisation (HeraldSun)
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5 August 2024: Research uncovers child abuse rates in religious settings (Mirage News)
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5 August 2024: Study reveals prevalence of child sexual abuse in religious settings (SkyNews, Jessica McCarthy)
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5 August 2024: New research shows sharp fall in clergy abuse, but Catholics bear largest share (The Catholic Weekly, Marilyn Rodrigues)
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5 August 2024:Close to 90,000 Australians were sexually abused as a child at a religious organisation (NewsCorp, John Dagge and Sarah Perillo)
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25 July 2024: Tackling the trend towards gendered disrespect (ACU's IMPACT)
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16 July 2024: NAPCAN announces the launch of the 'Tuned In Building Safer Facilitation Skills with Young People' online modules (Third Sector)
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5 July 2024: New Tuned In modules help adults have tough conversations with young people (The National Tribune)
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5 July 2024: Australian delegation attends International Safeguarding Conference in Rome (Cath News)
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4 July 2024: New Tuned In Modules Aid Adults in Tough Youth Conversations (Mirage News)
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21 July 2024: Victim survivor helps launch UMFC strategic plan (The Wangaratta Chronicle)
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18 June 2024: What can schools and parents do to prevent deep fake inappropriate images? (SchoolNews Australia)
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7 June 2024: Peer sexual harassment impacts students in Australian schools (UOWTV, Clemency McRae)
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29 May 2024: Of 8 wealthy countries, Aussie parents most likely to think smacking their kids is ok (Scimex)
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6 May 2024:Journey to safeguard children ongoing in Catholic Church - study (Catholic Outlook)
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12 April 2024: 1 in 10 Australians sexually harassed by a peer during childhood (SkyNews)
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11 April 2024: 1 in 10 Australians sexually harassed by a peer during childhood, interview with Sally Sara on Patricia Kavellas Breakfast (ABC Radio National)
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11 April 2024: One in seven girls 'sexually harassed by a peer during childhood' (The Australian paywall)
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11 April 2024: 1 in 10 Australians sexually harassed by a peer during childhood
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11 April 2024: Research shows one in 7 young Australians sexually harassed by peers (CathNews)
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6 March 2024: Victorian Department of Education response to Beaumaris inquiry into child sexual abuse, Interview on Drive with Ali Moore (recording on ABC Melbourne Radio 774, interview begins at 1:39:47)
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6 March 2024: Education Department failings 'put many children at risk of sexual abuse' (The Age - paywall)
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9 February 2024: Jacinta Allan chokes back tears during historic apology to Victorians abused in state care (Herald Sun - paywall)
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31 January 2024: There are reports some students are making sexual moaning noises at school. Here's how parents and teachers can respond, by Daryl Higgins and Gabby Hunt (The Conversation)
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29 January 2024: Junge queere Australier*innen erleben Missbrauch (Männer)
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27 January 2024: A landmark new study with findings on gay, lesbian and queer sexualities in Australia, Professor Daryl Higgins interviewed by Paul and Fiona (Joy 94.9 Saturday Magazine - podcast)
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27 January 2024: . Mark my words, we're heading for a gender reckoning in 2024 (Catholic Weekly)
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26 January 2024: Nation-first study shows young women bearing the brunt of gender wars (The Catholic Weekly)
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24 January 2024: Over 75 % Of Young Queer Australians Face Abuse From Parents, Authority Figures: Study (Star Observer)
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21 January 2024: Study finds over 75 per cent of LGBTQ+ Australians face abuse from parents or other authority figures (The Pink News)
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23 January 2024: Everybody's A Little Gay, Right? New Study Reveals More Australian's Are LGBTQIA+ (DNA)
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23 January 2024: Young LGBT+ Australians face greater risk of maltreatment, Interview with Patricia Karvelas (Radio National, RN Breakfast)
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22 January 2024: How many Australians are gay? A landmark new study might have the answer (Sydney Morning Herald - pay wall)
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17 January 2024: New study looks to reduce child maltreatment in the home (CathNews)
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16 January 2024: ACU study identifies complex interplay of factors which impact child maltreatment (The Sector)
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16 January 2024: Study identifies factors associated with child maltreatment in the home (Sky News)
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15 January 2024: Study identifies factors associated with child maltreatment in the home (Phys.Org)
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8 January 2024: Adolescents the most common perpetrators of child sexual abuse (The Australian - pay wall)
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3 January 2024: Child abuse report rush clogs system (The Australian - pay wall)
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26 December 2023: We've failed these kids - almost 100 reports of child exploitation of kids in state care in six months (Herald Sun).
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19 December 2023: Pandemic stress not over for asylum seekers and refugees (Mirage)
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29 November 2023: How empowering kids can help protect them from abuse (360Info)
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25 November 2023: 7 charts on family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia (The Conversation). Syndicated widely, e.g. Asia Bulletin, Cambodian Times, Singapore News, Australian Herald, Asia Pacific Star, Sydney Sun    
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23 November 2023: Don't teach your kids about 'stranger danger' or 'tricky people'. Try these conversations instead. (Mamamia)
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8 November 2023: Senator’s child abuse ‘surge’ claim misleads (AAP Fact Check)
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22 October 2023: Abuse in a hospital ward: Victorian survivor fears for safety of children visiting patients (The Guardian)
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20 October 2023: Urgency for national summit to address abuse (Cath News)
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18 October 2023: Urgency for national summit to address abuse (Catholic Weekly)
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13 October 2023: How to talk to children about the Hamas and Israel conflict (The Age)
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27 September 2023: Inquiry Findings Urge Improved Safeguarding in Tasmania (Mirage News)
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6 September 2023: NAPCAN experts call for National Summit to prevent child maltreatment
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4 September 2023: NAPCAN Calls for a National Summit to Prevent Child Maltreatment (NAPCAN media release)
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10 August 2023: Queensland man who says schools should reconsider the cane joins government’s youth justice group (The Guardian)
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27 July 2023: Australia’s corporal punishment laws in breach of UN human rights, researchers find (ABC News Qld)
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5 June 2023: Kids feeling at risk of sexual abuse turn mainly to mum (by Stephen Lunn, The Australian)
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17 May: Corporal Punishment, (ABC Behind the News, produced by Joseph Baronio)
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12 May: Tasmanian foster care to face dire shortage in five years as carers 'age out' (ABC Northern Tasmania)
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8 May: Child maltreatment study reveals tragic statistics (The Catholic Leader)
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7 May: Sixty-five countries have banned smacking children - why isn't Australia one of them? (The Guardian)
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5 May: Uncovering a cycle of child abuse in Australia (ANU Policy Forum)
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3 May 2023: Evidence-based paper calls for corporal punishment ban (Psych.org)
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3 May: Corporal punishment of children in Australia: The evidence-based case for legislative reform (Channel 9)
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3 May: Corporal punishment of children in Australia: The evidence-based case for legislative reform (Channel 9 twitter)
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3 May: Smacking ban urged to protect children's mental health (Canberra Times)
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3 May: Evidence-based paper calls for corporal punishment ban (ACU News)
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3 May: It's time to ban corporal punishment of kids in Australia (Pursuit)
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3 May: Smacking ban urged to protect children's mental health (PerthNow)
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2 May: Emotional abuse is a pattern of hurtful messages - building parenting skills could help prevent it (The Conversation)
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1 May: Why evidence-led consent education is essential (The Educator Australia)
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16 April: Physical, sexual and emotional abuse, are more likely to be experienced together not individually (2BS 95.1 FM)
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14 April: One in four Australian children have been sexually abused: research (The Wire)
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11 April: Preventing child maltreatment: everyone's responsibility (MJA Insight)
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9 April: Australian child neglect endemic: report (Catholic Weekly)
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6 April: Child harms don't occur in isolation (Medical Republic)
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5 April: Research finds multi-type abuse common for children (The Daily Advertiser)
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4 April: Urgent need to combat' high levels of child sexual abuse (The Australian)
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3 April: Around 62 per cent of Australians report being abused and neglected in childhood, major study finds (ABC News online)
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3 April: Australian child maltreatment study the shocking findings (MJA News Insight)
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3 April: Major study reveals two-thirds of people who suffer childhood maltreatment suffer more than one kind (The Conversation, Evening Report)
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3 April: Data sparks call to act to protect youngsters (Kalgoorlie Miner)
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3 April: One in three children suffering (The Advocate)
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3 April: 'Wake-up call' for all levels of government: landmark study to drive coordinated response to child abuse (The Mandarin)
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3 April: Study finds nearly two-thirds of Australians abused, neglected, or exposed to domestic violence as children (ABC Radio National)
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3 April: Shocking Study Reveals How Prevalent Childhood Abuse Is (10 News First)
Watch here

3 April: Two-thirds of all Australians suffered childhood maltreatment, new ACU study shows (The Catholic Weekly)
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3 April: Child maltreatment national study - the shocking findings released (Catholic Leader)
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3 April: Around 62 per cent of Australians report being abused and neglected in childhood, major study finds (ABC News)
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3 April: Two-thirds of abused children face more than one type of maltreatment (CathNews)
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3 April: Child maltreatment is pervasive in Australia and exists in multiple forms: new research (The Sector)
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12 March: One-third of childhood sexual abuse is perpetrated by another child. Shannon Molloy tells his story - and urges us not to look away (The Conversation)
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8 March: A safer place for women and children to live (ACU IMPACT)
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27 February: You can't pour from an empty cup: Strengthening our service and systems responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence (106.7 MHz FM Cairns)
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27 February: Failure to protect Indigenous children from violence at home 'funnels' them into crime, Queensland report finds (The Guardian)
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27 February: 'Healing' approach to Indigenous child protection needed: report (The Australian)
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27 February: You can't pour from an empty cup: Strengthening our service and systems responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence (Women's Agenda)
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24 February: Young people's plea: 'believe us and act' (The Advocate, The Examiner)
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24 February: Tasmanian government urged to hear from children as institutional child sexual abuse inquiry nears end (ABC News)
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24 February: Tasmanian children say "Take notice, believe us and act" on institutional abuse (The Advocate)
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24 February: 'I didn't feel safe': Tas child sexual abuse commission of inquiry releases special report (The Herald Sun, The Advertiser, Geelong Advertiser, The Toowoomba Chronicle, NT News, Cairns Post, The Courier-Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin, The Daily Telegraph, The Mercury, Townsville Bulletin)
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24 February: Foster carers 'teased, bullied' children: report (Techinkers.com, PerthNow, Kyabram Free Press Southern Riverina News, The Riverine Herald, Cobram Courier, Deniliquin Pastoral Times, The Shepparton News, Benalla Ensign, The Campaspe News, MSN Australia)
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24 February: Tasmanian government urged to hear from children as institutional child sexual abuse inquiry nears end (ABC Online)
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24 February: Tasmanian children say "take notice, believe us and act"on institutional abuse (The Advocate)

6 February: Fr Hans Zollner in Australia (Cath News)
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1 February: Mums and dads should have parenting skills independently assessed: response to family law system overhaul (Herald Sun online)
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1 February: Paramedics could sound early warnings of child abuse or neglect - but they need support and more training (The Conversation; CC BY-ND 4.0: Foreign Affairs.co.nz, National Tribune, Public News Time, Modding MX, Ten Albury Wodonga)
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1 February: Paramedics could sound early warnings of child abuse or neglect - but they need support and more training (2SM network, 2DU, 2HC)
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1 February: Mums and dads should have parenting skills independently assessed (3AW, Ten Albury/ Wodonga, 107.9 Hit FM)
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1 February: Mums and dads should have parenting skills independently assessed (Herald Sun)
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1 January: Too many kids dying (Sunday Mail Adelaide)
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18 December: Royal Commission anniversary highlights the need to also safeguard children in non-institutional family settings (Catholic Outlook)

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14 December: Smacking on notice. Mounting evidence of the harmful effects of corporal punishment of children is leading to calls to ban this practice in the home. (ACU Staff Bulletin)

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14 December: Call for action to safeguard children in family settings (Catholic Leader)

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13 December: Parents need support for ‘crucial conversations’. Speaking in the lead-up to the fifth anniversary of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Daryl Higgins calls for a similar focus on children’s safety in non-institutional settings. (CathNews)

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1 December: United Nations calls on Australia to ban smacking (CathNews)

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30 November: UN pushes for Australian smacking ban (The West Australian)

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30 November: United Nations orders Australia to BAN smacking as expert says the nation is ‘way behind’ the rest of the world on the issue (DailyMail UK)

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13 October: Pressure to make smacking illegal (The Australian)

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11 October 2022: The campaign to end the physical punishment of children (ACU IMPACT)

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29 September 2022: How to discipline well - Why smacking isn’t good, and what to do instead (Kindicare)

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15 September 2022: Youth voices the key to safety in faith-based organisations (The Southern Cross)

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9 September 2022: New data prompts call to abolish Australia's ancient smacking laws (Sydney Morning Herald)

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7 September 2022: Youth voices the key to safety in faith-based organisations (Catholic Outlook)

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6 September 2022: Pressure grows on child protection services – can the child protection workforce cope with the growing demand? (ABC News Radio PM)

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2 September 2022: Kids fear reporting abuse in religions (Herald Sun)

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31 August 2022: Sex offences at school increasing (Sydney Morning Herald)

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26 July 2022: Research shows it’s harmful to smack your child so what should parents do instead? (The Conversation)

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20 June, 2022: Australia’s child protection system ‘broken’ (ABC News)

Listen to interview

16 June 2022: Childhood corporal punishment linked to lifelong mental health issues (ABC Radio Melbourne, Virginia Trioli)

Listen to interview

16 June 2022: Shocking impact childhood smacking has on mental health (3AW Radio, Neil Mitchell)

Listen to interview

16 June 2022: Is it wrong to smack your kids? New research says it’s causing anxiety and depression (Verve Times)

Read article

16 June 2022: Calls to ban smacking (Channel 9 News)

View news segment

16 June 2022: To smack, or not to smack? (Channel 9 News)

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16 June 2022: Is it wrong to smack your kids? New research says it’s causing anxiety and depression (Channel 7 News)

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16 June 2022: ‘Pets better protected’ in country of kid smackers (Herald Sun paywall)

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16 June 2022: Calls for Aussie parents to be banned from smacking their children (What’s New2Day)

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16 June 2022: Stress is no excuse. Smacking kids is just violent abuse (The Advertiser paywall)

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5 May 2022: Law change sought on corporal punishment (Catholic Weekly)

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4 May 2022: Work culture could be why detention centre staff have ‘unfavourable views about children’, commission hears (ABC News)

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29 April 2022: Why aren't rates of domestic violence going down? (CathNews)

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30 April 2022: Smacking ban? (Channel 10 News)

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27 April 2022: Urgent reform needed for child protection workforce (ACU News)

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19 April 2022: The workforce in the child protection system needs urgent reform (The Conversation)

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14 April 2022: Community-led research shows importance of culture in healing from domestic violence (ProBono)

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7 April 2022: Queensland child protection system failing Indigenous domestic violence victims, report finds (The Guardian)

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18 February 2022: Researchers call for more support for parents (CathNews)

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27 January 2022: Parents need more support, for the sake of all families (ANU, Crawford School of Public Policy, Policy Forum, Asia & the Pacific Policy Society)

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11 November 2021: How to respond to a child who has been through a traumatic-experience (The Record)

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11 November 2021: Helping children through distressing media coverage (Catholic Weekly)

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4 October 2021: Children in out-of-home care at higher risk of suicide (ACU News)

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8 Sep 2021: Creating safe places for children to learn, live and play (ACU News)

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2 Sep 2021: Children hesitant to approach adults when feeling unsafe – survey (The Educator Online)

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16 July 2021: Data collection update: All age strata, except youth, now filled! (Queensland University of Technology)

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2 June 2021: The Catholic Church just overhauled its laws on sexual abuse. What effect will this have? (ABC Radio National)

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28 May 2021: How did a man who preyed on children end up advising students at Melbourne Uni? (The Age)

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13 May 2021. Hot off the presses: Protocol paper published! (Queensland University of Technology)

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13 April 2021: Respectful relationships – teach the positives (WIN TV)

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18 March 2021: It's time to break the culture of silence around abuse (ACU News)

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12 March 2021: First national study of child maltreatment, Mirage News

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21 January 2021: Problem gambling and families: the hidden voices of children

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23 November 2020

ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies part of new Global Safeguarding Alliance

ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies is part of a new Global Safeguarding Alliance (GSA) that will promote knowledge and worldwide exchange on safeguarding and the prevention of abuse of children, adolescents and other vulnerable people.

14 October 2020

ACU News: New ACU research will improve supervised contact visits for 45,000 children

9 October 2020 

News items report on kContact, a research project led by Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin, Institute for Child Protection Studies. The kContact research project helped improve supervised contact visits for about 45,000 children in out-of-home care and their birth parents.

Catholic Weekly: Improved contact visits helps foster kids

Mirage News: ACU research leads to better contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents

ACU News: Research leads to better contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents

ACU research leads to better contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents

ACU news item on kContact, a research project led by Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin, Institute for Child Protection Studies. The kContact research project helped improve supervised contact visits for about 45,000 children in out-of-home care and their birth parents.

23 September 2020

ACU study finds gender diverse students feel unsafe at school

ACU news item on published paper which found that gender diverse youth feel significantly less safe at school than other students. But they trust adults to tackle sexual harassment and support them in risky situations.

23 September 2020

Gender diverse students feel less safe at school: report

Education HG reported that gender diverse youths feel significantly less safe at school than other students but they trust adults to tackle sexual harassment and support them in risky situations. These findings were made by Douglas Russell, Daryl Higgins and co-authors in the paper 'Gender diversity and safety climate perceptions in schools and other youth-serving organisations' published in Children and Youth Services Review.

1 September 2020

Experts call for ‘urgent’ change to Medicare rebate

CathNews reported on an open letter to the federal Government on behalf of the Parenting and Family Research Alliance. Professor Daryl Higgins joined professors John Toumbourou, Chair in Health Psychology at Deakin University, and Jan Nicholson, Director of the Judith Lumley Centre at La Trobe University, to point to the glaring gap in rebates for parenting programs that are effective at improving the mental health of their children and families.

31 August 2020

ACU academic joins call for Medicare change to help protect children’s mental

Catholic Leader reported on a letter to the editor of The Age by Professor Daryl Higgins and prominent health academics calling for an urgent change to Medicare rebates to help address mental health issues among children.

18 August 2020

Pandemic highlights urgent need for Medicare rebate change to help parents of children struggling with mental health

Leading child protection expert Daryl Higgins joined a list of prominent health academics calling for an urgent Medicare rebate change to cover families seeking parenting advice to protect their children’s mental health.

13 August 2021

Support for the mental health of children and parents

Letter to the Editor of The Age by leading child protection expert Daryl Higgins and prominent health academics calling for an urgent Medicare rebate change to cover families seeking parenting advice to protect their children’s mental health.

24 February 2020

Problematic cultures in many different youth-serving organisations are part of the problem in their responses to child sexual abuse

Virginia Trioli interview on ABC Radio Melbourne with Daryl Higgins Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies; Penny Savidis, partner at Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers; and Professor Donald Palmer, State University of New York, Stony Brook. Discussion of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and whether recommendations are being applied.

11 November 2019

How grandmother saved her two grandkids from being poisoned by daughter-in-law

Prof Daryl Higgins offers his view to 9News on the challenges of treating the rare condition Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP). His perspective focuses on the challenges of dealing with MSbP in Australia's courts system, and how the main focus of investigators is to remove a maltreated child from harm.

29 May 2019

Preventing another Stolen Generation in Australia: Crucial lessons from history are being ignored

Article in the Asia and the Pacific Policy Society Forum on research by ACU Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin, and colleagues Melissa O'Donnell and Rhonda Marriott.

1 May 2019

Free professional development to support those working with complex family situations 

Article in The Sector promoting the Keeping Kids Central online training program which aims to improve the capacity of practitioners to engage with children and young people who have been exposed to family violence.

April 2019 

New online child safety resources deal with family violence

Article in Education Today promoting Keeping Kids Central online modules with practice tools and resources to help build skills that help engage children and young people.

17 April 2019

Crisis in accommodation for homeless young people under the age of 16 in ACT

Dr Debbie Noble-Carr, formerly a Research Fellow at Australian Catholic University, speaks to ABC journalist Tahlia Roy about homeless children in the ACT being forced to seek to unstable alternative shelters.

12 March 2019 

First national study of child maltreatment

The Institute of Child Protection Studies is part of an international consortium of researchers who have been granted $2.3 million to study the prevalence and effects of child maltreatment. The comprehensive study will survey 10,000 Australians on the prevalence of the health and economic burden of child maltreatment, including: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence. The five-year study, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, is the first ever to examine the health outcomes and burden of disease caused by child maltreatment.

5 March 2020

Researchers call for urgent action to prevent further intergenerational trauma

The Sector reported on a study confirming that Aboriginal children are now 10 times more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be placed in out-of-home care. The researchers call for urgent action to prevent further intergenerational trauma. This research was a collaboration with Murdoch University and the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University.

1 March 2019

Spike in Aboriginal child removals spark call for action

ACU news item on a study that confirms that Aboriginal children are 10 times more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be placed in out-of-home care has prompted an urgent call for action to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin from ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies was a co-author on the study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.

1 March 2020

Spike in Aboriginal child removals sparks call for action

Mirage News reported on research that confirmed that Aboriginal children were still being removed in high numbers, with some people referring to this removal as another Stolen Generation. Research was led by Professor Fiona Stanley, Dr Melissa O’Donnell, Professor Rhonda Marriott, and Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin.

25 February 2020

Indigenous babies being removed from parents at rising rates, study finds

The Guardian reported on study conducted by Associate Profession Stephanie Taplin and colleagues on Indigenous babies being removed from parents at rising rates.

27 February 2020

Rising rate of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care

National Indigenous Times article on new research that has confirmed that Aboriginal children are 10 times more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be placed in out-of-home care, fuelling the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

15 February 2018

Article in the Canberra Times, discussing ICPS research about children of incarcerated parents.

24 January 2018

Article in the Sydney Morning Herald, featuring comment from Prof Morag McArthur.

14 December 2017 

'It was us against everyone': How abuse survivors will keep pushing for change

Article in The Guardian, featuring comment from Prof Daryl Higgins.

9 December 2017 

Never again: can the royal commission help make our children safe?

Article in The Guardian reviewing the history of secrecy and lack of transparency by institutional leaders who set the culture of tolerance of sexual abuse.

28 September 2017: 

'Prevention is crucial' in safeguarding children

Article in the CathNews about the Safeguarding Children: Leading Change workshop.

27 September 2017: 

Safeguarding children: A workshop in leading change

Article in the Melbourne Catholic about the Safeguarding Children: Leading Change workshop.

26 September 2017: 

Safeguarding children is a shared duty

Article in the Melbourne Catholic about the Safeguarding Children: Leading Change workshop.

13 September 2017: 

More Canberra kids in care as advocates call for community prevention.

Canberra Times article featuring Prof Morag McArthur.

12 September 2017: 

Protecting children from abuse in organisations needs leadership and cultural change

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Prof Daryl Higgins.

9 September 2017:

Kids in Sport and Safety

Radio interview with Dr Tim Moore on ABC Territory Grandstand.

7 September 2017:

National Child Protection Week

Radio interview with Dr Tim Moore on ABC Darwin with Richard Margetson.

19 March 2017: 

'Crisis levels' of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in the ACT (external link)

Canberra Times article featuring the Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin discussing the kContact project.

15 March 2017:

Child abuse prevention services lacking (external link)

News.com.au article regarding the release of a report about help-seeking needs and gaps for preventing child sexual abuse.

19 December 2016: 

Young people feel unsafe in residential care (external link)

Pro Bono Australia article, featuring Dr Tim Moore. 

29 October 2016: 

Young people reluctant to report sexual abuse, royal commission research finds (external link)

ABC Online article, featuring Dr Tim Moore.

9 September 2016: 

How schools can make their students feel safer (external link)

The Educator article, featuring Dr Tim Moore. 

8 September 2016: 

An alarming number of kids feel uneasy talking to adults about safety (external link)

Huffington Post article featuring Dr Tim Moore.

7 September 2016: 

Report calls for greater focus on child safety concerns (external link)

Radio Interview with Dr Tim Moore on ABC Radio National Drive. 

Students don't trust schools to protect them from abusers (external link)

Sydney Morning Herald article featuring Dr Tim Moore. 

Survey shows children's abuse concerns (external link)

Radio Interview with Prof Morag McArthur on ABC PM with Mark Colvin.

27 April 2016: 

ACT Government commits to Institute for Child Protection Studies until 2021 (external link)

Canberra Times article regarding a 5 year funding agreement from the ACT Community Services Directorate. Republished in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

27 April 2016:

Interview with Prof Morag McArthur regarding the extension of CSD funding until 2021 (external link)

Radio interview with Genevieve Jacobs on 666 ABC.

14 April 2016: 

Canberra churchgoers seek training to stop child sexual abuse (external link)

ABC Canberra News Article featuring Dr Tim Moore.

4 April 2016: 

Interview with Dr Stephanie Taplin regarding treatment for substance using mothers (external link)

Lateline television interview with Emma Alberici.

10 October 2015: 

Role reversal: when children become the carers (external link)

Sydney Morning Herald article in 'Good Weekend', featuring Dr Tim Moore. 

18 August 2015: What do children and young people have to say about safety in institutions? (external link)

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Dr Tim Moore, Prof Morag McArthur and Erin Barry. 

Republished on Parenthub on 8 September 2015.

17 August 2015:

Kids' 'gut feelings' about creepy adults invaluable in detecting pedophiles

The Australian article by Natasha Bita, regarding the launch of ICPS report on Kids' Safety.

4 August 2015: 

Australian children say adults need to listen to their concerns about safety

ABC Interview with Tim Moore regarding the release of the ICPS report on Kids' Safety. 

1 July 2015: 

More support needed for pregnant women who use alcohol, drugs: ACU report

The Age article by Megan Gorrey, featuring Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin and the project examining the outcomes of identifying AOD use during pregnancy on women, their children and partners.

Also published in the Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times (in print). 

17 April 2015: 

Adoption has a role in child protection but it's no panacea (external link)

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin. 

29 October 2014: 

Foster parents need more support to care for vulnerable children (external link)

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Prof Morag McArthur and Erin Barry.

5 December 2013:

Canberra Times article by Fleta Page, featuring Vicky Saunders and the ICPS forum held on 3 December regarding children of prisoners in the ACT.

30 November 2013:

Canberra Times article by Peter Jean, about the Institute of Child Protection Studies.

26 November 2013:

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Dr Justin Barker and Erin Barry.

31 October 2013:

Canberra Times article by Peter Jean, featuring Vicky Saunders and the Children of Prisoners project.

ABC News article by Louise Willis, featuring Vicky Saunders and the Children of Prisoners project.

3 July 2013:

ABC News Article regarding the ARC Linkage Grant awarded to ICPS.

1 February 2013:

Canberra Times article by Megan Doherty, featuring Debbie Noble-Carr and the Identity and Meaning in Vulnerable Young People Project.

17 October 2012:

Opinion piece in The Conversation, by Prof Morag McArthur and Erin Barry.

16 July
Safeguarding barriers continue in religious settings – new research 
Australian religious leaders have highlighted “significant barriers” to child safeguarding practices in their organisations. The study involved interviews with 20 religious leaders – mainly priests, ministers, or pastors – from Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Baptist, Churches of Christ, Lutheran, Salvation Army and other non-denominational Christian ministries

1 July
Maltreatment – not out-of-home care – poses mental health risks among children with comparable abuse experiences 
Maltreatment is the key risk factor for mental health issues of children in out-of-home care (OOHC). This finding is from the latest publication by Lottie Harris, Research Fellow at ICPS, and co-authors, based on data from Australian Child Maltreatment Study. The research shows that abused children taken into OOHC do not have a higher risk of poor mental health outcomes compared with those with similar maltreatment experiences who remain at home.

19 May
With a new minister for early childhood education, what can the federal government do to make centres safer?
This week, more reports emerged of horrific abuse of children at childcare centres. An ABC investigation reported young children had suffered burns and been verbally abused. In another case, a baby was repeatedly slapped by an early childhood educator. ACU early childhood expert Dr Victoria Minson and Institute of Child Protection Studies Director Professor Daryl Higgins wrote a piece for The Conversation about what the new Australian Government needs to do to better ensure children's safety. 

28 March
Safeguarding kids in sports a team effort - expert
Following recent media coverage of fighting among spectators on the sidelines of a junior suburban basketball game, Senior Researcher Douglas Russell said sport should be a place of fun, growth, and teamwork, but when adults behaved poorly, fear and anxiety replaced excitement among young participants. A timely reminder to reflect on children's safety and wellbeing in organised sport. Read his five top tips to safeguard children.

22 November
Study identifies risk and protective factors for sibling sexual abuse
A new study by ICPS has found that sibling sexual abuse is most often demonstrated by male siblings with a history of maltreatment or a learning disability. The research, funded by Bravehearts Foundation, systematically reviewed 39 international studies to identify key risk and protective factors of sibling sexual abuse, which is one of the most common forms of intra-familial child sexual abuse.

1 August
Study reveals prevalence of child sexual abuse in religious settings
One in 250 Australians were sexually abused by a leader or other adult in a religious organisation during childhood. The first nationally representative figures on the prevalence of child sexual abuse by leaders or other adults in religious settings shows nearly three-quarters of the reported cases occurred in Catholic-run organisations.

11 April
One in 10 young Australians sexually harassed by peers
The first nationally representative figures on the prevalence of sexual harassment across childhood reveals females and those who are gender or sexuality diverse are most at risk. The findings, based on data from the landmark Australian Child Maltreatment Study of 8503 Australians aged 16 years and older who were asked to reflect on their childhood experiences of maltreatment, show males were the most common perpetrators of peer sexual harassment. Those impacted are at risk of adverse physical, social, and psychological problems.

22 January
Research reveals prevalence of gender and sexuality diverse Australians, and finds greater risk of all forms of child maltreatment
Australians with diverse sexualities or genders are three times more likely to experience child maltreatment than heterosexual Australians or cisgendered males and females, new research shows. The research reveals that 9.5% of Australians identify as sexuality diverse, with 0.9% identifying as gender diverse. The proportions are higher among 16-24-year-olds where 17.7% are sexuality diverse and 2.3% are gender diverse.

3 January
New study identifies factors associated with child maltreatment in the home
New findings from the from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study have revealed a complex interplay of child, parental, and contextual factors associated with the maltreatment of children by their families. The findings identify key areas which could be targeted with support and parental education to reverse the trend. The research also highlights a variety of protective factors which keep children safe from harm.

5 June 2023
Young people less likely to raise the alarm in unsafe situations involving peers rather than adults
Children and young people are more likely to tell someone if an adult rather than a peer is making them feel unsafe. These findings are from a survey of 3417 young Australians aged 10-8 that investigated their help-seeking behaviours in organisations such as schools, out-of-home care, sport, and religious settings. We also found that children and young people are most likely to turn to their mum, followed by a trusted friend and then their dad to reveal situations putting them at risk of sexual abuse.

3 May 2023
Evidence-based paper shows it is time to ban corporal punishment
Corporal punishment should be prohibited nationally and supported by a public health education campaign and greater access to parental supports, according to a new research paper. A new paper published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, argues for a three-tiered strategy to outlaw corporal punishment. The paper reviewed laws in Australia that allow the practice, international agreements on children's rights, evidence of its adverse effects, and the outcome of legislative reforms in countries that have implemented bans. ACU Professor Daryl Higgins, the Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies, was one of the co-authors of the paper.

3 April 2023
Australian children suffering multiple types of abuse and neglect putting them at serious physical and mental risk – landmark study
Australian-first research from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study into the prevalence of childhood maltreatment has revealed almost two-thirds of children who experience any child abuse or neglect have been subjected to more than one type. Children are more likely to experience multiple types of maltreatment including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence, than a single type of maltreatment.

27 February 2023
ANROWS study into child protection responses to domestic and family violence in First Nations families (PDF, 178KB)
Report released today, based on our partnership with ANROWS and QATSICPP, documents a study into child protection responses to domestic and family violence in First Nations families. The research found that responses are not offering adequate support and that First Nation's voices need to be elevated to prioritise community-led solutions for healing and recovery.

13 December 2022
Royal Commission anniversary highlights need to also safeguard children in non-institutional family settings (PDF, 97KB)
In the lead up to the fifth anniversary of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Professor Daryl Higgins has issued a call to action for more supports to help families safeguard their children and spearhead conversations around topics including sex and sexuality, consent, respect, online safety and pornography. A similar focus on children’s safety in non-institutional settings is urgently needed.

29 November 2022
Parents’ child protection experiences revealed in new study (PDF, 144KB)
New research has given a rare voice to parents who become involved with child protection authorities during pregnancy or via infant removal, with parents reporting feelings of powerlessness, shock, and distress at having their babies taken away “out of the blue”.

1 September 2022
Youth voices the key to safety in faith-based organisations
New Australian Catholic University research asked young people in youth-serving organisations of different Christian denominations what safety means to them, how they perceive risk, and what they need from adults to feel safe. The study identified four themes linked to children’s sense of safety: power, familiarity, concerning behaviour, and judgement.

24 June 2022
School chaplains need the right qualifications to protect vulnerable children: ACU child protection expert
Religious chaplains working in schools must be qualified to recognise and respond to child abuse and neglect. This is what we need to address the crisis of child protection and mental health issues.

16 June 2022
Three in five young Australians suffer corporal punishment, almost doubling their risk of mental health disorders
Australian-first research into the prevalence of childhood maltreatment has found 61% of Australians aged 16-24 have experienced corporal punishment on more than three occasions. The research, presented by Professor Higgins at the Australian Institute of Family Studies conference in Melbourne, found of those who had experienced corporal punishment, females were 1.8 times more likely to have a major depressive disorder in their lifetime, and 2.1 times more likely to experience generalised anxiety.

28 April 2022
Expert comment available about making smacking children illegal
Professor Higgins will lead an online workshop with experts from Wales, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada to discuss lessons learned from their legislation banning corporal punishment of children and how to end corporal punishment laws for children in Australia.

22 April 2022
Urgent reform is needed for child protection workforce, ACU report
A national study found that the current workforce is ill-equipped and unable to respond to the growing need for child welfare services. Australia’s child protection system is in crisis with far too many children taken into care and many not receiving the assistance they need. More preventative services are needed to support children to remain safely with their families, rather than the current system geared towards removal.

7 November 2021
How to respond to a child who has been through a traumatic experience (PDF, 95KB)
Following discovery of four-year-old Cleo Smith who had been abducted but found alive and safe, Professor Daryl Higgins offers tips on how practitioners can avoid re-traumatising a child by respecting their emotional wellbeing, dignity and safety.

23 November 2020
ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies part of new Global Safeguarding Alliance
ACU’s Institute of Child Protection Studies is part of a new Global Safeguarding Alliance (GSA) that will promote knowledge and worldwide exchange on safeguarding and the prevention of abuse of children, adolescents and other vulnerable people.

30 October 2020

Expert comment on keeping children safe in community sport

14 March 2019:
Landmark study to unpack impact of child maltreatment (PDF, 195KB)

26 September 2017:
Safeguarding children is a shared duty (PDF, 93KB)

30 April 2017:
Young people advocate for safe and functional residential care (PDF, 339KB)

1 May 2017:
Involving children in decisions 'will help protect them from sexual abuse'
Guardian Australia article featuring Dr Tim Moore and Prof Morag McArthur, discussing the young people's safety in residential care project.

3 September 2012:
More Than Just Me, Supporting Fathers who are Homeless (PDF, 312KB)

Joint media release between ICPS and Hanover Welfare Services.
Find out more about the Supporting Homeless Fathers project.