Welcome to the Australian Centre for Child Protection
From the Director
For societies to flourish socially and economically, all children must have the opportunity to reach their potential – physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. For our most vulnerable children, including those at risk of being abused and neglected, we have a special duty of care to help them overcome the additional obstacles they face. Ultimately, this is an issue of human rights.
There is a growing acceptance that children are citizens with a right to be protected from abuse and neglect. This is not only because of the immediate suffering inflicted from child abuse and neglect, but also its long term consequences on both individuals and our society.
Reflecting the increasing community concern about child abuse and neglect, the University of South Australia and the Australian Government established the Australian Centre for Child Protection in 2005 to address this problem on a national basis. Core funding for the first decade of operation has been provided through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
The Centre is making a valuable contribution to a knowledge-based approach to preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. To this end, we are pioneering a public health model of child protection through supporting the innovation, evaluation, dissemination and transplantation of successful strategies.
Between 2006 and 2008 we were chief investigators in competitive research grants totalling A$3 million. We have undertaken a wide range of multidisciplinary research projects examining the prevention, identification and response to child abuse and neglect, with particular emphasis on the translation of research into action.
The Australian Centre for Child Protection has come a long way in its first few years. Given the enormity and complexity of the challenges in the work we do, there remains much work to be done. By working in close partnership with others, we will succeed in the struggle against child abuse and neglect.
Foundation Chair in Child Protection and Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection
The Australian Centre for Child Protection is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.