Establishing a Child Safety Research Agenda

We are leading the National Child Safety Research Agenda (CSRA) development and delivery under First National Action Plan Measure 23 of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030. This measure responds to Recommendation 6.3 of the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The report identified significant gaps in data on the prevalence, nature, extent and impact of child sexual abuse in Australia and recommended research be used to build the evidence base.

Objective

We will develop and deliver an agenda to coordinate and drive national research to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours in children (CHSB) through:

• building evidence on the risk, extent and impact of child sexual abuse victimisation in Australia and offending in Australia and by Australians
• assessing the efficacy of programs that aim to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse guiding the development and improvement of new program, legislative and operational reforms, including identifying areas for action under future National Strategy action plans
• linking government and non-government stakeholders with researchers
• providing incentives for researchers to undertake work aligned with CSRA outcomes.

The CSRA will be developed in partnership with Commonwealth agencies, state and territory governments, the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse and other non-government research organisations.

Anticipated outcome

The CSRA will be a world-leading research agenda that coordinates formative research on child sexual abuse victimisation and offending in Australia. This includes:

• identifying research gaps
• assessing the efficacy of child sexual abuse offender programs
• guiding the development and improvement of policy and program interventions
• informing future preventative and response measures.

Resources

CSRA Model and Principles

The CSRA Model and Principles outlines our approach to developing and delivering a national Child Safety Research Agenda. It includes background information on the CSRA, key activities, timelines and governance. The model and principles have been informed by consultation with key domestic and international stakeholders. Further information on this consultation and its outcomes can be found below.

Consultation Outcomes Paper

Over October and November 2022, we sought submissions from key stakeholders to provide feedback on a draft version of the CSRA Model and Principles. We received 27 written submissions and one verbal submission in response to the paper. A range of stakeholders participated in the consultation process, including academics, law enforcement and government agencies. The Consultation Outcomes Paper summarises the key themes of submissions received, provides an overview of additional feedback and articulates how we will action the feedback we have received via the CSRA Model and Principles.

Additional child safety research resources

We have been working in close collaboration with the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. You can visit the national centre’s research page for more information on their work and research projects.