Institute of Child Protection Studies

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found that child sexual abuse often co-occurs within the context of other forms of abuse and maltreatment including exposure to family violence. Our latest In Conversation webinar brought together insights from research, cultural, practice experts and lived experience for an impactful discussion exploring this prevalent intersection. Thank you to our Moderator Fiona Cornforth and panellists Tess (Tee) Moodie, Professor Michael Salter, Professor Kyllie Cripps and Dr Morag MacSween for leading such an important conversation. A recording is now available on our website: https://lnkd.in/gA4BxuAn #HereForChange #FamilyViolence #ChildProtection

Our office will be closed during the annual ACU Christmas closedown period from 25 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 in most states & territories (NSW closed from 24 December to 1 January). It's going to be a hot summer so stay in the shade & stay hydrated (your choice of beverage). See you in 2025😎

With an election due in 2025, we are getting in early and supporting calls for the creation of a Minister for Children. Check out the new website which will be advocating for this new position, plus more, in a campaign to make children a priority. You can add your voice and your support to this call. https://lnkd.in/grmfyKkJ Anne Hollonds UNICEF Australia 54 reasons ARACY Save the Children Australia NAPCAN Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) Bravehearts Centrecare Valuing Children Initiative Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR)

Listen to ‘One Talk at a Time’ by Teeny Tiny Stevies now: https://lnkd.in/eazJwJC5.   We are incredibly excited to have partnered with renowned children’s entertainment group, Teeny Tiny Stevies, to launch a new song as part of ‘One Talk at a Time’ campaign.   The song is about having an open dialogue with children and young people about personal safety, body boundaries, not keeping secrets, and sharing concerns with a trusted adult if something or someone doesn’t feel quite right.   The song is paired with an animated video and sing-along e-book featuring familiar Teeny Tiny Stevies animal characters who are all grown up, now with children of their own, having these conversations and learning together.   You can also listen to the song via all major streaming platforms: https://lnkd.in/etwDEWuX.   You can also access the e-book from: https://lnkd.in/em8z7adh.

On #HumanRightsDay we turn our attention to the rights of the child in the digital environment. The Australian Government has taken a leading stance internationally in banning young people under 16 years of age from many forms of social media due to major concerns about the mental health effects on young people. There are concerns that this move may stifle creativity and online opportunities for young people. But with children and young people spending more time online, this resource has changed the way they access education and keep in touch with extended family and friends. Unfortunately, more time online increases the risk of being exposed to online abuse, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, sexting, grooming, and radicalisation. Under these circumstances, their right to be safe in the digital environment has never been as important. As always, it’s important to model safe internet behaviour, share online interests, and set some rules. The resources and guidelines below offer a range of approaches to support child rights to online safety: - Investigating risks and opportunities for children in a digital world: A rapid review of the evidence on children’s internet use and outcomes [https://lnkd.in/guFnTaai] by Mariya Stoilova, Sonia Livingstone and Rana Khazbak, UNICEF Innocenti - Swoosh glide and rule number 5: digital book [https://lnkd.in/gbUwMj_Q] by Barbara Uecker and Peter Viska, eSafety Commissioner - Child rights to online safety: how parents can offer support – Part 1 [https://lnkd.in/gEiveN5s]: by Daryl Higgins, Institute of Child Protection Studies - Child rights to online safety: how parents can offer support – Part 2 [https://lnkd.in/gq8xf7eM]: by Daryl Higgins, Institute of Child Protection Studies

"Human rights are under assault... This year’s theme reminds us that human rights are about building the future - right now... We must stand up for all rights - always." - United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres Human Rights matter and ensuring the protection of children's rights is a critical investment in the future. Children possess inherent rights to life, dignity, health, identity, equality, and freedom from discrimination. They deserve a safe environment, protection from harm, and the opportunity to participate in matters that concern them, including the right to be heard. Additionally, they have rights to bodily integrity, protection from armed violence, justice, liberty, privacy, and the rights of minority and Indigenous groups. Education, play, freedom of thought, and the ability to express themselves and engage in peaceful protest are also essential rights. Today, I implore the Australian Commonwealth and State and Territory governments to consider the impacts of legislation and policy on children and young people. The Australian Human Rights Commission and UNICEF Australia published a child rights impact assessment tool last year, to guide government and service providers in evaluating the impact of new laws and policies on children's rights and well-being. You can find a link to the report and the stand alone assessment tool below. #HumanRightsDay #ChildrensRights #HumanRightsMatter #10December, #HumanRights #AusHumanRights #StandUp4HumanRights #16Days #NoExcuse #ProtectKids #16DaysOfActivism Anthony Albanese David Crisafulli MP Andrew Barr Chris Minns Lia Finocchiaro MLA Peter Malinauskas Jeremy Rockliff Jacinta Allan Roger Cook Anne Hollonds Luke Twyford Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) Bravehearts Matt Gardiner 54 reasons

𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 WEBINAR TODAY: 𝗖𝗼𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟮𝗽𝗺-𝟭.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 Due to popular demand, Association of Children's Welfare Agencies have opened up extra registrations for today's webinar on 𝗔𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹: 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 presented by A/Prof Tim Moore & others. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gDzCSe2J

Just like National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in the UK, we are campaigning to end the use of corporal punishment in Australia. NSPCC is calling for a total ban in England. The head of the children's charity says it's time for politicians to deliver "a long overdue change in the law". We want the same in Australia. As members of the Australian campaign Ending Physical Punishment of Australian Children #EPPAC we are working with stakeholders across Australia to change legislation and end corporal punishment. We are also arguing that legislative change must happen alongside access to parenting supports. It worked in New Zealand and is working in many of the 67 countries that have banned corporal punishment. If you want to support this campaign, sign the EPPAC petition: https://lnkd.in/g9U_JdPe

'Australia’s top officials for children and young people hold grave concerns about the rushed process and lack of clarity surrounding the Federal Government’s social media legislation, which will place significant restrictions on social media use for under 16s.' Australian and New Zealand Children's Commissioners have released a joint statement on the social media ban for children and young people. Read more and access the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/gq2jPJPx

During this16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (a global campaign led annually by UN Women), it is important to recognise that a gender-based lens does not just focus on women and girls as victims of violence; it should also acknowledge that restrictive social norms about gender and sexuality also contribute to violence against boys, men and individuals with diverse gender identity and sexuality, including children and adolescents. Evidence suggests that many individuals from the #LGBTIQA+ community experience various forms of #violence in their intimate and familial relationships during their lifetime. The repercussions of these experiences are significant and further impacted by the stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that LGBTIQA+ individuals encounter. The factors driving this violence are frequently similar to those associated with violence against women.  Individuals identifying as LGBTIQA+ may face heightened risks of experiencing specific types of family, domestic, and/or sexual violence (FDSV) when compared to other groups. Additionally, some members of the LGBTIQA+ community may suffer from particular forms of violence known as identity-based abuse. This abuse can take various forms, such as: * Pressuring individuals to conform to established gender norms or preventing them from receiving gender-affirming medical care. * Committing corrective rape, a hate crime where the victim is assaulted based on their perceived sexual orientation. * Threatening to reveal an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation against their will. * Excluding a family member due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The #ACMS study found that Australians who identify with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities are 3x more susceptible to experiencing child maltreatment compared to their heterosexual counterparts or cisgender males. The risk of child sexual abuse is particularly pronounced for individuals with diverse gender identities, who were found to be nearly 5x more likely to encounter such abuse than cisgender males, and over twice as likely as cisgender females. The considerable over-representation of Australians from gender and sexuality diverse backgrounds who face child maltreatment underscores the urgent requirement for the establishment of more targeted policies and services, as well as a broader acceptance and recognition of this diversity. Safe and Equal Our Watch Bravehearts Institute of Child Protection Studies #NoExcuse #16Days #16DaysOfActivism #ProtectKids