National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

Register for our upcoming In Conversation webinar, set for 12 November, 2024. 📣 This episode will bring together Fiona Cornforth, Tess (Tee) Moodie, Professor Michael Salter, Professor Kyllie Cripps and Dr Morag MacSween to unpack topics such as family violence policy and service responses, how family violence exposure increases a child's vulnerability to experiencing sexual abuse, and integrated approaches to protecting and responding to victims and survivors. Secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gigsYdSs #hereforchange #familyviolence #childmaltreatment

This week in Melbourne, there will be two special screenings of ‘Left Write Hook’, a film following the journey of eight female and gender diverse survivors of childhood sexual abuse, who participate in a peer led recovery and empowerment program that combines expressive writing and trauma informed boxing. Join Left Write Hook Film creators, survivors, advocates and practitioners for a preview screening and Q&A, tonight October 29 at Cinema Nova and Thursday, October 31 at Kino Cinemas. More details below! #hereforchange #traumainformed #leftwritehook 

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse is proud to introduce The Change Academy, our new professional learning hub. Grounded in the latest research and informed by practice and lived experience expertise, The Change Academy offers professional learning programs designed to help practitioners, organisations and the community better support and respond to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Get started with our inaugural program, ‘Foundations of child sexual abuse’, a 90-minute self-paced online short course, for just $33: https://lnkd.in/g-VhDrhQ Join The Change Academy to help build a more compassionate, trauma-informed community: https://lnkd.in/gyVSRdhg #hereforchange #thechangeacademy #onlinelearning

Today is Day for Daniel 2024. Held annually by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, this event is a chance for the whole of society to come together to raise awareness of child safety issues. As 1 in 4 children living in Australia have reported experiencing child sexual abuse, today we encourage you to learn about the indicators of child sexual abuse. Children often do not disclose (or tell) about their experience of being sexually abused. On average, it takes victims and survivors of child sexual abuse 23.9 years to disclose. This means that it is important for all adults to know what physical and behavioural signs to look for that might indicate a child is being or has been sexually abused. Access our resource on the indicators and impacts of child sexual abuse here: https://lnkd.in/g4rUWsNR #hereforchange #dayfordaniel #keepingkidssafe

The National Centre has launched a new resource, the 'Practice Prompts for Primary Health Care'. This resource has been developed with the expertise and guidance of people with lived and living experience, key stakeholders from the Primary Health Care sector, and the Project Advisory Group. Aimed at strengthening the confidence and capabilities of Primary Health Care practitioners, this innovative resource provides practical examples of what to say, ask and think about when working with those at risk or impacted by sexual violence. Short videos that form part of this resource provide additional and specialist guidance on important intersectional considerations by three members of the Project Advisory Group, Nicole Lambert, Chair of National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence Inc (NASASV) and CEO Allambee , Kai Noonan, Director of Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and Linda Wiseham, Manager and Specialist Advocate Redress, People with Disability Australia (PWDA). 'Practice Prompts for Primary Health Care' is a response to the need, expressed by practitioners, for support and guidance on how to engage and speak with individuals who experience sexual violence, including child sexual abuse. To view the resource, head to our website: https://lnkd.in/gBuf8V3v #hereforchange #strengthening #strengtheningprimaryhealthnetworks

Our second day of Reshaping the Conversation, began with opening keynotes by Anne Hollonds, National Children’s Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner and Catherine Liddle, CEO SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, followed by session 4, which focused on the challenges of systems collaboration. Candas Hogan and Kathryn Fordyce’s plenary, was followed by a panel chaired by Dr Leanne Beagley PhD featuring speakers Luke Twyford, Dale Tolliday, Natasha Brunhuber, and Candas Hogan and Professor Ben Mathews. The discussion showcased different practical examples of systems collaboration and explored strategies for making diverse systems work together effectively, emphasising practical enablers and how to navigate challenges. After the launch of the National Centre’s Annual Report, where we heard lived experience perspectives from Robbie Gambley, Natasha Brunhuber, and Malika Elizabeth Reese, session 5 kicked off with Professor Michael Salter, Director of Childlight UNSW, who discussed complex trauma, shame and dignity. The panel discussion was chaired by Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM, President of Blue Knot Foundation alongside speakers Louise Lamont, Tiffany McComsey, Dr Graham Gee, Malika Elizabeth Reese, Janise Mitchell and Professor Michael Salter. The speakers explored living with child sexual abuse related complex trauma, focusing on ongoing trauma and intersectional healing. Our Showcase was closed by keynote speaker, John Cardamone, child sexual abuse survivor, speaker and educator who bravely shared his story. Over 250 people attended, online and in person, from overseas and throughout Australia - thank you for attending Reshaping the Conversation! #reshapingtheconversation #childprotection #childsafety

Yesterday's closing session at our inaugural Showcase, Reshaping the Conversation, focused on understanding and responding to harmful sexual behaviours within an education setting. Our insightful plenary from Dr Robyn Miller, CEO MacKillop Family Services, was followed by panel discussion, chaired by Janise Mitchell, CEO, Australian Childhood Foundation alongside speakers, Melissa Brown, Shannon Molloy, Jenny Wing, Professor Andrea de Silva and Dr Robyn Miller. The panel explored how to effectively respond to harmful sexual behaviours, the growing impact on communities and parents, and the challenges for educators and school settings in preventing, intervening and responding. Day one wrapped up with our Showcase dinner, where we heard from speaker Emma Hakansson, who delivered the impactful Dr Joe Tucci Memorial Oration and shared findings from their important 'Our Collective Experience Project'. Stay tuned for more updates across our two-day Showcase and learn more about harmful sexual behaviour here: https://lnkd.in/eHhSYfJe #reshapingtheconversation #childsafety #harmfulsexualbehaviour 

The Conversation Australia + NZ has published an article on the National Centre’s recently released ‘Australian Child Sexual Abuse Attitudes, Knowledge and Response Study’. Professor Andrea de Silva, National Centre Director, Knowledge Generation, Research and Evaluation said, “This new data shows us that while many Australians want to protect children from sexual abuse, some hold very problematic attitudes towards victims and survivors, and there are significant barriers in terms of understanding the issue, recognising risky behaviours, and knowing how to respond. These harmful attitudes and barriers must be addressed if we are to ensure a safer and more supportive environment for all children and child sexual abuse victims and survivors.” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e27wajTC Access the Study reports and infographics: https://lnkd.in/gwyDcxvE #hereforchange #research #childsexualabuse

After a Welcome to Country by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Billy Cummings, a powerful opening keynote by Youth Advocate, Aimee Hele, who bravely told her own story of trauma, and an introductory address by Dr Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM, the National Centre’s inaugural showcase “Reshaping the Conversation”, was officially launched. Our first session, ‘Unpacking the Complexity’, opened with a plenary by National Centre CEO Dr Leanne Beagley PhD, who chaired a panel featuring speakers, Megan Graham, Fiona Cornforth, Aimee Hele, Professor Daryl Higgins, Dr Deirdre Thompson and Dr Pooja Sawrikar. The panel openly explored the complexities of preventing and responding to child sexual abuse including how we: challenge problematic community attitudes; build community and workers ability and confidence to respond, act and support, and the role language and compassion plays in healing. Session two focused on disclosure, beginning with a plenary by Robert Fitzgerald AM, age Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission followed by a panel led by Shannan Dodson, alongside speakers Professor Lynne McPherson, Hanina Rind, Dr Katrina Lines, John Cardamone, Alisa Hall and Robert Fitzgerald AM. The discussion unpacked topics such as; what helps and what prevents disclosure, the importance of believing children, and inherent risks and power imbalance impacting victims and survivors. Stay tuned for more updates across our two-day Showcase and learn more about the National Centre’s work: https://lnkd.in/gtDBWfzW #reshapingtheconversation #childsafety #childprotection 

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse launched ‘The Australian Child Sexual Abuse Attitudes, Knowledge and Response Study’ at inaugural Showcase, Reshaping the Conversation. Over 4,000 adults from across Australia were surveyed and asked about their attitudes towards, knowledge of, and responses to child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviours, and the needs of victims and survivors.  The findings have revealed critical gaps in the public’s understanding of and ability to identify and respond to child sexual abuse in Australia and provides nationally representative data and insights to inform Australia’s child sexual abuse prevention, response and support efforts. To access the Study reports and infographics, head to: https://lnkd.in/gwyDcxvE    #hereforchange #research #childsexualabuse