The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse Monthly Newsletter: October 2024 Edition

Welcome to our Newsletter, our LinkedIn edition alongside our Monthly EDM which you can subscribe to here . Please enjoy our Newsletter welcome below, written by National Centre CEO Dr Leanne Beagley PhD .

"Welcome to our Newsletter, which is filled with news about what we have been up to over the past month and what is coming up in November.?

We acknowledged the anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse which also coincides with the third birthday of the National Centre.

Our work over the past year culminated in our Showcase, held over two days in Brisbane. More than 250 people joined in person or via livestream to share in reshaping the conversation. We have already received such encouraging feedback including great ideas about how we could improve the experience for future events.

Here is an example of what we are hearing:

“I just wanted to say a MASSIVE thankyou to your organisation. I was a recipient of a lived experience scholarship and for most of my life I was that emu with dingoes howling which was spoken of during the conference.”

“I have felt the emu my whole life! Quietly sitting, listening and observing over the recent 2 days at the National [Centre] Conference I saw the passion and commitment by incredible humans who presented at that conference.”

“I met some incredible people, but most of all I met other emus. I left Brisbane yesterday with a heart FULL, no longer alone.”

“I have hope and a drive to make change as a person with lived experience and a paediatric nurse.”

We launched our Annual Report and our professional learning hub, The Change Academy , as well as the “Australian Child Sexual Abuse Attitudes, Knowledge and Response Study ”, and our newly developed Practice Prompts for Primary Health Care resource . We also heard lots about where action needs to occur from here. We were so pleased to host a dinner where the inaugural Dr Joe Tucci Oration was made by Emma Hakansson – and importantly to hear over the two days such different perspectives on the prevention and response actions needed to make the change we all want to see. Thank you to every presenter and all the participants. We will release visual and video recordings over the next months so that those who missed it will have a chance to learn and engage with some of the wisdom that emerged. We are also inspired to keep growing our network and we do encourage you to keep informed on new opportunities to belong and act for change via this Newsletter.

You can find our recent In Conversation?recording for 26 September on the prevention of child sexual abuse and encourage you to sign up for the 12?November session on the intersection of family violence and child sexual abuse.

As this is my last message to you all as CEO, can I take a moment to thank you for engaging with us as we build our National Centre – a place that was the vision of victims and survivors who informed the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The team is small but awesome, and the community of collaborators which keeps growing is testament to how important the work is going forward together. I have loved working with and leading this team and I shall miss them indeed. All the best to them and to you all.

Thanks,

Leanne"

Monthly highlights

Reshaping the Conversation Showcase

More than 250 people joined our inaugural Showcase, Reshaping the Conversation, both online and in person, from overseas and across Australia.

Held on Yuggera?and?Turrbal?Country, at the State Library of Queensland, our two-day Showcase involved daily keynotes and five sessions with plenary presentations and panel discussions focused on prevention and response to child sexual abuse.

These invaluable conversations allowed us to explore how we can collectively respond and featured insights from researchers, practitioners, policymakers and those with lived and living experience.?

Thank you to all who joined us in reshaping the conversation.?Stay tuned for recordings of the sessions, which will be published on our website soon .

The Australian child sexual abuse attitudes, knowledge and response study

This month the National Centre released “The Australian Child Sexual Abuse Attitudes, Knowledge and Response Study”.??

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 revealed critical gaps in the public’s understanding of and ability to identify and respond to child sexual abuse in Australia, highlighting the need for national and local strategies and efforts to enhance community capacity in preventing, identifying, and responding to child sexual abuse.

Access the Study reports and infographics .

The Change Academy

The National Centre was proud to launch 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.?

The Change Academy will offer a range of online courses, virtual workshops and webinars as well as bespoke training customised to the needs of different workers and organisations.?

You can now enrol in our first course, ‘Foundations of child sexual abuse’.

Join The Change Academy to help drive intergenerational change and build a more compassionate, trauma-informed community.

2024 Annual Report

Aligning with the National Centre’s third birthday and during our inaugural Showcase, our 2024 Annual Report was launched.

After hearing from speakers with lived experience expertise, the report was introduced by Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM President of Blue Knot Foundation and Chair of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, and the National Centre’s outgoing CEO, Dr Leanne Beagley PhD .

“The contribution of people with lived and living experience, in particular and of all members of all Advisory, reference and representative groups has been paramount. We could not do what we do without the collective wisdom and expertise of diverse individuals and groups.” Dr Cathy Kezelman.

View report.

In Conversation webinar series

Our upcoming In Conversation webinar

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 next In Conversation webinar, set for 12 November 2024, brings together insights from research, practice and lived experience and cultural experts to explore the intersection of family violence and child sexual abuse.?

Join us as we unpack 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 children who experience child sexual abuse and family violence.

Register now .

New resources

Strengthening primary health care responses

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 resource provides practical examples of what to say, ask and think about when working with those at risk or impacted by sexual violence.?

“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.

View resource

In Conversation webinar recording

Thank you to all who joined our most recent In Conversation webinar, “What do we know about the drivers of child sexual abuse and how do these inform prevention efforts”.?

We were joined by moderator Dr Leanne Beagley PhD alongside speakers Professor Daryl Higgins Christabel Chamarette and Kelly Humphries .

The webinar unpacked topics such as challenges that the prevention of child sexual abuse presents, the current knowledge base surrounding the drivers of child sexual abuse, and key actions needed to strengthen a prevention approach.

A recording is now available on our website .

Share your insights

The National Centre’s 2024 Learning and Development Survey

Do you work or volunteer in any human service-related area supporting or assisting children, young people or adults? If so, the National Centre needs your help!

We are conducting a study to understand the learning, training, and development needs of those working with victims and survivors and their families affected by child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours.

We know that children, young people and adults impacted by child sexual abuse interact with a diverse range of professionals and volunteers across various sectors. Therefore, we are seeking input from staff and volunteers in specialist services, child protection, child and family welfare, community services, education, health, justice, early childhood, aged care, community sports and recreation, and any other sectors or areas where you work with children, young people, or adults.

Your insights are invaluable in shaping future training and development programs, ensuring they meet the needs of those working in this critical field. To participate, you must be 18 years or older, residing in Australia and proficient in English. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete and is open until Sunday, 8 December.

Participate in the survey .

News from our Board

“The Board is pleased to advise that Alisa Hall will be the Acting CEO while the National Centre recruits for its next permanent CEO.

Alisa has been with the National Centre since its inception in the role of Director of Practice Development and Engagement. She has been stewarding our work to build the capability of workforces and the community. Alisa has extensive experience delivering and leading clinical and social support services and organisations as well as workforce capability programs and initiatives at state and national levels.

We are delighted that Alisa will lead the organisation through this transition period. Together with the Executive team and staff team, there is little doubt that the National Centre will build on the momentum already forged together and drive it forward for maximum impact.” Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM , Chair National Centre.

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