News

5 papers just published

Our staff have co-authored 5 papers covering a wide range of topics including support for practitioners working in out-of-home care, and why we must listen to children’s concerns and ideas.

In the period from late December 2026 to January 2026, our staff have had five papers published covering a wide range of topics including support for practitioners working with children in out-of-home care with mental health issues, how different types of harm can be measured, the extent of use of health services after childhood experiences of domestic violence, online child sexual victimisation, and the imperative to listen to what children have to say about their lives.

1. Lottie G. Harris, Dhatsayini Rattambige, Gabrielle R. Hunt, & Daryl J. Higgins (2026). Accumulation of violence and victimisation: Why it matters to measure broadly and account for different harm types, Current Opinion in Psychology, Vol. 68,102260, ISSN 2352-250X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102260

Drawing on three examples of data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, the authors have shown how maltreatment intensity, environmental adversity, and peer-related harm each contribute uniquely to long-term outcomes such as mental health disorders and problematic alcohol use

2. Julie A. Blake, Hannah J. Thomas, David M. Lawrence, Divna M. Haslam, Daryl J. Higgins, Eva Malacova, Holly E. Erskine, Rosanna Pacella, Franzisca Meinck, & James G. Scott. (2026). Childhood experiences of domestic violence and health service utilisation, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 173, 107893, ISSN 0145-2134, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107893

Having found robust and independent association with mental health disorders and health service use in adulthood, the authors urge for investment in prevention of childhood experiences of domestic violence, as well as increased domestic and family violence education and training for health professionals.

3. Ben Mathews, Kausar Parvin, Kerryann Walsh, David Finkelhor, Daryl Higgins, James G. Scott, Sarah Napier, Melanie Burton, Mariesa Nicholas, Jennie Noll, Asher Flynn, & Andrea de Silva (2026). Online child sexual victimization and associated health risk behaviours and mental disorders: Findings from a national survey in Australia, SSM - Mental Health, 9, 100581, ISSN 2666-5603, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100581

The authors highlighted the following findings & conclusions:

• Nonconsensual sharing of sexual images is strongly associated with suicide attempt, self-harm and major depressive disorder.
• Sexual solicitation by adults is associated with self-harm.
• Technology, education, health and legal systems need to promote online safety, digital citizenship, and sexuality education.
• Health and other supports are essential to mitigate effects.

4. Tim Moore, Dave Vicary, & Sharron Bessell (2025). From tokenism to transformation: Lived experience in child and family systems. Children Australia, 47(2), 3105. doi.org/10.61605/cha_3104 (https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/article/3105/ )

Authors of this article are also Co-Editors-in-Chief of Children Australia; they highlight what becomes possible when children and young people’s lived experience is taken seriously – and why the sector must move beyond aspiration towards embedded, everyday participation.

5. Lottie G. Harris, Daryl J. Higgins, & Megan L. Willis (2026). Practitioners’ perspectives on enablers of improved mental health outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care: Beyond a “scattergun approach”, Child Protection and Practice, Vol. 8, 100283, ISSN 2950-1938, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100283

The authors of this paper reviewed feedback from practitioners to provide a series of actionable solutions to build a more effective out-of-home (OOHC) sector. They urge implementation of enablers, and testing of their efficacy within OOHC and mental health care settings to ensure feasibility and utility. They also note that clear communication with the public and involved sectors and institutions are key to securing support for practice and policy reform to facilitate the systemic implementation of these enablers.