Australian Centre for Child Protection

The first week of September is National Child Protection Week. The ACCP is committed to leading the research-based development of practices and policies that protect and ensure the wellbeing of all children.

This National Child Protection Week (1-7 September), Napcan will be hosting a series of webinars on this year's theme, "Every Conversation Matters". This theme highlights the importance of fostering dialogue in addressing child abuse and neglect.

To register or for more information: https://www.napcan.org.au/final-official-program-webinars-events-2024/

This Sunday, 4 August is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. This year's theme is 'Strong in Culture, Stronger Together', acknowledging the strengths that connection to culture, stories, kin, and community bring to the resilience and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, helping to form bright leaders for the future.

The ACCP stands with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and their knowledge that keeping children connected to culture and community strengthens families and children. We will continue our work towards protecting vulnerable children, keeping families together, and striving to turn around the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system.

To find Children's Day events near you, visit: https://www.snaicc.org.au/our-work/campaigns/childrens-day/childrens-day-events/

SNAICC-National Voice for our Children

NAIDOC Week is a time to observe and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's theme, 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud' reminds us that the pride, strength, and knowledge within our First Nations communities are a force for change. In our Strategic Plan, ACCP has made decolonisation a key priority of the work that we do – across our work and our approaches.

Today, members of the ACCP Adelaide Office attended a talk by Nici Cumpston OAM, Barkindji woman, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, and Artistic Director, Tarnanthi, at the Art Gallery of SA.

Nici spoke about the exhibition 'Country, our mother', showing works by artists from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, explaining the ways in which art brings people together on Country to retell important stories and document their history, with multiple pieces displayed in the exhibition being collaborative works between groups of artists.

Included in the exhibition were collaborative artworks by the Spinifex Arts Project, through which the Pila Nguru/Spinifex people advocated and demonstrated their connection to Spinifex Country - from which they were removed during the Maralinga nuclear trials in the 1950s - and which helped to solidify the Native Title determination in their favour.

The artwork pictured is Kungkarangkalpa – Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti Burton, a senior Pitjantjajtara woman. You can read more about this piece in the Art Gallery of SA's post here: https://www.facebook.com/agsa.adelaide/posts/pfbid0NkSKsuL4pjFpLjsyS9pSsBASMMwp2nn22XisMdu4nQcGRQFZxibVg9HAnRrP6kmCl

The ACCP respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna and Whadjuk Noongar Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their Elders past and present, who are the Traditional Owners of the lands that are now home to the Australian Centre for Child Protection’s offices in Adelaide and Perth. We are honoured to recognise our connection to the Kaurna and Whadjuk Noongar lands, and their history, culture and spirituality through these locations, and we strive to ensure that we operate in a manner which respects their Elders and ancestors. We also acknowledge the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of lands across Australia where we conduct business, their Elders, ancestors, cultures and heritage.

Interested in completing the Professional Certificate in Understanding Childhood Trauma? Enrolment for our July intake is now open!

If you’re currently working with children and young people impacted by abuse and neglect and want to further develop your knowledge and understanding of childhood trauma, enrol now!

The self-paced, six week course is delivered entirely online. Find out more: https://study.unisa.edu.au/short-courses/professional-certificate-in-understanding-childhood-trauma/

We are delighted to share with you our new practice resource to help front line practitioners across child protection, health and education in understanding harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.

This updated version of the Layered Continuum, brings together feedback from its use in practice, and recent research conducted by the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

Accompanying paper to be released soon.https://www.unisa.edu.au/siteassets/research/accp/layered-continuum-paton--bromfield-june-2024..pdf

Please Note: The Practice Guide was updated on 27 June, after it was first published on 30 May. Please delete previous version and download updated version via link above.

National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June 2024, ‘Now More Than Ever’.

This week reminds us of the importance of our goals towards achieving reconciliation in Australia, while celebrating our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. At the ACCP, we see every day the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities, and how these contribute to the significant overrepresentation of these children in the child protection system and out-of-home care. We also see and acknowledge, through our work and through the First Nations representation in our governance, the power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and doing; the strength of enduring cultural, family, and community bonds; and how meaningful recognition of these elements can drive self-determination and the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The result of the 2023 Voice referendum were devastating. The decision by the Australian people not to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders the dignity and respect to have a voice in decisions made about them was inexplicable to many of us. National Reconciliation Week is a reminder of the deep hurt caused by the referendum result. “Now More Than Ever” we must demonstrate, through action, our commitment to reconciliation, to de-colonisation, and to self-determination.

The ACCP members individually and collectively have committed to acting to support self-determination and de-colonisation through our work as solidified in our Strategic Framework 2022-2027. This week, ACCP members will share with you their perspectives on reconciliation.



*The ACCP respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna and Whadjuk Noongar Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their Elders past and present, who are the Traditional Owners of the lands that are now home to the Australian Centre for Child Protection’s offices in Adelaide and Perth. We are honoured to recognise our connection to the Kaurna and Whadjuk Noongar lands, and their history, culture and spirituality through these locations, and we strive to ensure that we operate in a manner which respects their Elders and ancestors. We also acknowledge the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of lands across Australia where we conduct business, their Elders, ancestors, cultures and heritage.

UniSA Online’s Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma is the first qualification of its kind in Australia, designed to help professionals who are already working with children and young people to develop the specialised skills to recognise the signs of abuse and work therapeutically with vulnerable children.

If you’re looking to develop a deeper understanding of childhood trauma, and build your career in a sector where there is high demand for skilled, trauma-informed professionals, this 100% online course may be for you.

Through the Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma, you’ll learn from experienced practitioners whose world-leading knowledge has been informed by the latest, leading research into child abuse and neglect from the ACCP. In addition, you’ll benefit from regular community of practice sessions where you can engage directly with specialists and peers to discuss your learnings.

This one year, part-time online course is now open for enrolment for its June intake until:

Wednesday 29 May (if applying for prior credit)
Thursday 13 June (if not applying for credit)

For more information, visit the UniSA Online website: https://online.unisa.edu.au/degrees/graduate-certificate-in-childhood-trauma

Hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Home Team Psychology Division - ACCP's Deputy Director Practice, Amanda Paton has spent a week in Singapore providing a series of masterclasses for professionals across government and non-government agencies on:
- Destigmatising harmful sexual behaviours;
- Understanding and responding to child abuse and trauma and
- Therapeutic assessment and responses for harmful sexual behaviours.

Are you a professional currently working with children and young people impacted by abuse or neglect, and looking to upskill?

Upskill with industry-leading experts from the ACCP this July by enrolling in our Professional Certificate in Understanding Childhood Trauma (Intake 3, 2024).

This highly rated self-paced, six week online course is now open for direct enrolment until Friday 12 July.

If you’re an employer, please contact us at [email protected] regarding group enrolments.

For more information, visit: https://study.unisa.edu.au/short-courses/professional-certificate-in-understanding-childhood-trauma/

Do you currently work or volunteer (or have recently) in the WA Out-of-Home Care sector, and have some understanding of Harmful S*xual Behaviour (HSB) or an interest in learning more about HSB?

ACCP has been commissioned to develop a Response Mapping Tool (risk assessment and enhancing safety) for sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people for the OoHC context.

We are seeking participants who meet the above and additional criteria to participate in this research project and receive some free training.

If this is you, please read more at the ACCP website and complete an EoI: https://unisa.edu.au/research/australian-centre-for-child-protection/engage/ -to-our-research

If you know anyone who would be a great fit for this project, please tag them below!

Enrolments for our May intake (Intake 2 2024) for the Professional Certificate in Understanding Childhood Trauma close this Friday, 26 April! This is your last opportunity to enrol in this self-paced, six week online course for its May delivery.

The course is suited to professionals currently working with children and young people impacted by abuse and neglect looking to upskill. If this is you, find out more about the course at the ACCP website: https://unisa.edu.au/research/australian-centre-for-child-protection/news/accps-short-course-now-open-for-direct-enrolment

The April issue of ACCP Inform, ACCP’s quarterly e-newsletter, is now live!

In this issue, we take a look back at our 2023 achievements with a Year in Review. You’ll also learn about the study opportunities we offer through our Professional and Graduate Certificates.

To read more, or to sign up to receive ACCP Inform direct to your inbox each quarter, visit: https://unisa.edu.au/research/australian-centre-for-child-protection/news/accp-inform/

Are you a professional currently working with children and young people impacted by abuse or neglect, and looking to upskill?

Upskill with industry-leading experts from the ACCP this May by enrolling in our Professional Certificate in Understanding Childhood Trauma (Intake 2 2024).

This highly rated self-paced, six week online course is now open for direct enrolment for the very first time, with enrolment for this intake closing on Friday 26 April.

If you’re an employer, please contact us at [email protected] regarding group enrolments.

For more information, visit the ACCP website: https://unisa.edu.au/research/australian-centre-for-child-protection/news/accps-short-course-now-open-for-direct-enrolment

Congratulations again to Dr Jacynta Krakouer, UniSA Justice & Society's inaugural Enterprise Fellow and ACCP member, who won the Impact award in the Early Career Academic category at the UniSA Justice & Society 2023 Staff Champion Awards last Friday. Jacynta is a Mineng Noongar woman who, in the time since completing her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2022, has already established herself with a formidable CV with a breadth of achievements, solidifying her as a leader of impact in addressing issues relating to the wellbeing and connection to culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples including children and young people in out-of-home care, mothers experiencing child protection interventions in the perinatal period, and inequalities in the child protection system.

Jacynta leads the SAFeST Start Coalition, bringing together researchers, professionals, and lived experience advisors across Australia to find solutions to keeping Aboriginal children and families safe and together from the start during the perinatal period.

Jacynta's expertise has been sought at both Commonwealth and state levels, driving policy solutions across a range of areas including the Commission for Children & Young People Victoria’s review into the Cultural Safety Child Safe Standards and the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People SA's and Queensland Family and Child Commission’s reviews into compliance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. She has also been an invited expert witness to four public inquiries including the Disability Royal Commission, Yoorrook Justice Commission Child Protection Inquiry, South Australian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People's Child Protection Inquiry, and a Coronial Inquest into the tragic death of an Aboriginal child in out-of-home care.

Jacynta’s role in UniSA Justice & Society and our Centre is truly one of leadership in addressing the important issues of Aboriginal inequalities and working towards solutions to tackle the over-representation of Aboriginal children and families involved in the child protection system. Her commitment to impactful communication and sharing her knowledge, expertise, and guidance while providing warmth and generosity of spirit and ensuring the wellbeing of colleagues and students is truly valued and an inspiration for us all.

Congratulations to the ACCP staff members who have been nominees and awardees of UniSA Justice & Society's 2023 Staff Champion Awards. The Awards recognise UniSA Justice & Society Academic Unit staff who have made significant achievements in their roles while exemplifying the University and Academic Unit's core values and attributes. Their achievements were celebrated at a ceremony on Friday 5 April.

ACCP nominees included:
Prof Leah Bromfield: Established Academic – Leadership (awardee)
Dr Jacynta Krakouer: Early Career Researcher – Impact (awardee)
Amanda Paton: Professional Staff – Leadership (nominee)
Jenny Macpherson: Professional Staff – Continuous Improvement (nominee)

Prof Leah Bromfield, Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection and UniSA's Chair of Child Protection, won the Leadership award in the Established Academic category.

Leah was recognised as a leader who routinely and overtly anchors her inspiring leadership and mentoring in value-based decision making. In receiving the award, Leah was particularly recognised for her leadership in the field of child abuse and neglect. In 2023, she completed her role as Commissioner in the Commission of Inquiry into Tasmanian Government Responses to Child S*xual Abuse in Institutional Settings, with the final report containing 191 recommendations being handed down. In the same year, Leah was appointed as the Chair of the South Australian Child Protection Expert Group, and charged with establishing a 20 year vision for transforming the South Australian child protection system. Through her leadership within the University of South Australia, the ACCP has continued to make great strides, including reaching into new jurisdictions across Australia, the growth of our clinical expertise capabilities to deliver workforce development, and decolonisation being embedded as a core value across our work and approaches. Despite her significant commitments across the sector, Leah always makes time and demonstrates care for the ACCP staff and student team, and UniSA colleagues more broadly.

Stay tuned to learn more about Dr Jacynta Krakouer later this week.

Pictured L-R: Prof Jill Dorrian, Dean of Research, UniSA Justice & Society and ACCP Board Chair; Prof Leah Bromfield; Dr Jacynta Krakouer; Jenny Macpherson

Congratulations to ACCP's Dr Miriam Maclean, Research Fellow, Fernando Lima, Research Assistant, and Prof Melissa O'Donnell, Deputy Director, Research, on the publication of their article 'Positive reading achievement outcomes in children who experience out-of-home care: Characteristics and predictors' in Child Abuse & Neglect last month. This study compared the NAPLAN Year 3 reading achievements of 778 children in out-of-home care to data in the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) relating to their development, care histories, carer characteristics and access to supports and services.

The study found that there were a number of variables that were significantly associated with higher achievement among the children, relating to cognitive ability, externalising behaviour, and education level of carers. The results indicate that potential interventions targeting some of these cognitive, wellbeing, and environmental factors, to children and via carers, could improve student outcomes for children who experience out-of-home care.

Read more about this study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213423002636

The ACCP is wanting to connect with individuals, agencies, and sector representatives in WA working with children, young people, and families, particularly those responding to harmful sexual behaviours (HSB).

We are proud to share that we have been commissioned by the Department of Communities to develop a Statewide Framework for understanding and guiding responses to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people (the 'WA Framework'), which is a key state initiative under the Royal Commission and aligned with the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child S*xual Abuse 2021-2030.

The WA Framework will:
- develop a shared understanding of what healthy, typical sexual development is; ​
- build a common understanding of what HSB is, how it develops and what impact it has; ​
- what language should be used to describe these behaviours; ​
- what responses and principles of practice are helpful; and
- give guidance to services and agencies responding to HSB across WA in developing contextual and targeted responses, policies, and resources to support children, young people and families impacted by HSB.

ACCP will facilitate both broad and targeted consultations over the next six months to develop this key framework. For this project to be a success, engagement from as broad a range of stakeholders as possible across government and non-government organisations is critical.

The first round of consultations is now open - to register for one of our online workshops, please click here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wa-framework-consultation-workshops-tickets-844446230407

CREATE Foundation’s national out-of-home care conference, Voices in Action, brings together young people, carers, out-of-home care workers, researchers, and key decision-makers to discuss solutions to key issue in the out-of-home care system in Australia. Join international, national and local delegates for Voices in Action 2024.

When: 21-23 March 2024
Where: Adelaide Showgrounds, South Australia
Registration: https://voicesinaction.create.org.au/

The Australian Centre for Child Protection is now on LinkedIn! Follow us to stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments from our work in preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. If you're a professional in child protection or related sectors, connect with us to hear about professional development opportunities offered by the ACCP!
Follow us here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-centre-for-child-protection/

Welcome to the first issue of ACCP Inform for 2024.

This issue is dedicated to sharing the value that people with lived and living experience of child abuse and neglect bring to the ACCP’s work, projects, and decision making.

> Read here: https://bit.ly/3HnNd5C
> Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/ACCPsubscribe

Did you miss the recent Life Without Barriers webinar featuring Deputy Director Practice, Amanda Paton and a panel of experts who discussed sexual safety and abuse prevention for young people?

Good news! You can watch the recorded webinar here:

Let’s talk About S*x Webinar A webinar exploring sexual safety and abuse prevention for young people, and the launch of The S*xual Safety video series.SpeakersHost; Rob Ryan, Executive L...

Did you miss Shirley Young's webinar on 'Cultural and Clinical Supervision for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Allies' today?

Find out how Shirley brings together conversations and literature about cultural and clinical supervision in Aboriginal contexts.

Watch the recorded webinar here:

Cultural and Clinical Supervision for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Allies This webinar will begin to explore the complex challenges of an increasing interest in cultural and clinical supervision in the child and family support sect...

Yesterday ACCP Director Prof Leah Bromfield, ACCP Deputy Director Practice, Amanda Paton and ACCP Deputy Director Research A/Prof Melissa O'Donnell attended the 7West 16 Days in WA breakfast hosted by the Director General of the Department of Communities.

The 16 Days in WA campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through to 10 December (Human Rights Day) each year. The campaign takes its inspiration from the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

We are thrilled to see nearly 200 people registered for Shirley Young's 'Cultural and Clinical Supervision for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Allies' free webinar this Wednesday 29 November at 12midday - 1:30pm (ACDT).

Good news is there's still plenty of places available!

Shirley Young is a Nukunu woman from South Australia. She is a Social Worker and specialises in the provision of cultural and clinical supervision for individuals and groups, with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal allies across sectors in government and non-government organisations and working alongside a variety of classification levels and disciplines.

Find out more about Shirley and register here:

Cultural and Clinical Supervision for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Allies | Humanitix To explore the complex challenges of an increasing interest in cultural and clinical supervision in the child and family support sector.

Register to hear from our Deputy Director Practice, Amanda Paton, as she joins Life Without Barriers and a panel of experts to discuss sexual safety and abuse prevention for young people, as part of LWB's Stride Series.

When: Tuesday 28 November, 1-2pm AEDT
Where: Zoom
Registrations: https://lwb-org-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VJTreg7xR8mc_gQsf-PrEQ #/registration

Child sexual abuse survivors lend their voice to support others A new group comprised of child sexual abuse victim-survivors will help the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) identify how best to tackle and respond to child sexual abuse, experienced by up to 30% of children. Australia’s premier research centre for the prevention of child abuse and ne...

On Sunday 19 November we acknowledge World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

Since 2000, this day has served to encourage communities and governments to take action in the prevention of child maltreatment and neglect.

The ACCP is committed to preventing violence and abuse against children and young people and working in partnership to develop new knowledge, policies and practices to support this.

ISPCAN

Children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour require adults to better understand and meet their needs and addressing this issue is critical to intervening in child sexual abuse.

1 week to go! Join our Deputy Director Practice, Amanda Paton, and a panel of colleagues as they discuss harmful sexual behaviour, including how to identify and respond when it occurs.

When: Thursday 23 November, 1-2pm AEDT
Where: Zoom
Registrations: https://events.humanitix.com/in-conversation-introduction-to-harmful-sexual-behaviours-understanding-the-language-where-it-occurs-what-it-looks-like-and-what-to-do
The National Centre for Action on Child S*xual Abuse