Author guidelines for the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault

The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault aims to improve access to current information on sexual assault in order to assist policymakers and others interested in this area to develop evidence-based strategies that respond to, and ultimately reduce, the incidence of sexual assault. The emphasis of the Centre is on all forms of sexual assault; particularly the sexual assault of women and girls over fifteen years of age (the most commonly reported victims); and adult survivors of child sexual assault.

ACSSA Aware

The Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault’s newsletter ACSSA Aware is published quarterly and is available in print or electronically.

Goal of the newsletter and contents

ACSSA Aware is designed to provide regular and timely information to service providers, policy officers, researchers, and students in the area of sexual assault.

The content of each edition comprises a mix of contributions from ACSSA staff and writers in the sexual assault area generally. Contributions are concerned with practice, training, research, policy, and legislation, and news or reviews of recent relevant publications are also published. Regular features include a literature highlights section on recently published material received by the Australian Institute for Family Studies library, and a comprehensive listing of forthcoming conferences and workshops.

Service providers, researchers and those interested in working against sexual assault are encouraged to contribute to the ACSSA Aware newsletter.

Types of contributions

Contributions range from short reviews of books, conferences, workshops and projects to more substantial articles on issues related to sexual assault and the prevention of sexual assault.

Instructions to authors

Length

We are interested in short reviews (no more than 1,500 words) of books, conferences, workshops and projects. We will also consider more substantial articles (no more than 5,000 words) on significant issues in understanding, responding to, or preventing sexual assault. ACSSA Aware aims to provide a lively forum for ideas, argument and comment: thus we welcome readers’ letters, comments and feedback on issues discussed in ACSSA publications.

Abstract

Ssubmissions should include a short, paragraph-length abstract, featuring the main aims and highlights of the paper (maximum 120 words).

AIFS style

Submitted articles should conform to the Institute's house style. The Institute uses the referencing style described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition, 2001), but otherwise generally follows the style recommended by the Australian Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers (6th edition, 2002). Spelling should conform to the Macquarie Dictionary.

Specific details about the AIFS house style and examples of usage, spelling, referencing and other important information for authors are available in the Australian Institute of Family Studies Style Guide (PDF 257 KB).

Delivering the article

Email contributions are accepted as a Microsoft Word or RTF document, please contact ACSSA, or post to the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. An electronic provision is preferred where possible. For further information, contact the ACSSA Manager, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, phone (03) 9214 7888, fax (03) 9214 7839

Review process

Acceptance of all material is subject to a review process. Consideration will be given to whether articles are relevant, clearly written and accessible. Consideration will also be given to the following criteria:

Upon acceptance of a submission, the author(s) will be required to complete a Copyright agreement form.