Australian Centre for Child Protection
The Centre
The Australian Centre for Child Protection is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth Government (Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) and the University of South Australia. Government funding is provided for a 10 year period. The University has undertaken to locate and support the Centre within the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences. A National Advisory Council, representing a range of disciplines and key stakeholders, is a resource and a sounding board for the Centre.
The Centre is a focused initiative with a small professional staff. Core staff were appointed as of September 2005, under the leadership of Professor Dorothy Scott, the foundation Chair and Director.
Establishment of the Centre reflects increased community concern for the welfare of children, particularly those at risk of abuse or neglect. It also recognises the need for sustained coordination and support to the diverse and significant range of child protection initiatives undertaken by government, educational institutions and community organisations. The Centre has been established at an opportune time. Inter-government and inter-sectoral processes in child protection are increasing and research has the potential to underpin a knowledge based agenda for change and improvement.
The Centre’s impact will be leveraged through partnerships with stakeholders, through direct and indirect support for targeted research initiatives, and through facilitation of good practice in professional education. The Centre’s impact is also realised through advocacy aimed at improvement in practice and contribution to policy in child protection.
The Centre within the University
Through its research program, including the conduct of research and the communication of understandings from research, the Centre contributes to the UniSA mission of ‘Creating and Applying Knowledge’.
Through its program of support and development to child protection programs within professional education, and through its doctoral fellowship and training program, the Centre contributes to the UniSA mission of ‘Educating Professionals’.
Through its commitment to working in partnership and in strategic alliances with government, educational institutions and community organisations, the Centre contributes to the UniSA mission of ‘Engaging our Communities’.
The Australian Centre for Child Protection is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.