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NCPC Research Projects

Protecting Australia's Children: Research and Evaluation Register

A searchable database of Australian research and evaluation undertaken during the 1995-2010 period.

The following list represents research projects currently being undertaken by Clearinghouse staff.

Specialist practice resources

The Victorian Government, Department of Human Services has commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies to complete a series of Specialist practice resources. These resources will support the Best Interests Case Practice Model by providing specialist guidance and advice on specific issues or client groups. One of the key features of the resources is that they incorporate contemporary knowledge and research understanding of the subject matter and adopt an evidence-informed approach to practice.

Specialist practice resources are being completed on the following topics and issues:

  1. Cumulative harm (PDF 795 KB)
  2. Infants and their families (PDF 335 KB)
  3. Children with problem sexual behaviours and their families (PDF 386 KB)
  4. Adolescents with sexually abusive behaviours (PDF 423 KB)
  5. Engaging parents: Assessing and enhancing parenting capability/capacity
  6. Working with families in which an adult is abusive
  7. Adolescents and their families (PDF 1.9 MB)
  8. Stability and issues associated with removal
  9. Stability and issues associated with reunification
  10. Stability and permanency planning in care

Research Utilisation Project

The Clearinghouse is continuing its investigation into research use in the Australian child and family welfare setting. The next stage of the project is being conducted in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia and the Alfred Felton Chair at the University of Melbourne. In the next stage of the project we will will investigate the drivers for policy reform via in-depth interviews with key stakeholders in the Australian child protection policy context. Specifically, we will examine the development and implementation of major policy platforms in protecting children in Victoria and South Australia and the role research played in informing this agenda.

In 2006 and 2007, a two-stage survey was undertaken to examine the barriers and facilitators of research use by policy makers, practitioners and other professionals in the Australian child and family welfare sector. The findings from this project are described in the report:

Holzer, P., Lewig, K., Bromfield, L. M., and Arney, F. (2007). Research use in the Australian child and family welfare sector (PDF 975 KB) | (Word 783KB); Survey 1 (PDF 216 KB); Survey 2 (PDF 212 KB). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Other papers developed based on this findings from this project include:

Holzer, P.H. (2008). The research utilisation project: Facilitating research informed policy and practice. Child Abuse Prevention Newsletter, 15(2), pp. 4-5.

Holzer, P.H., Lewig, K., Arney, F., and Bromfield, L.M. (2007). The research utilisation project: Facilitating research informed policy and practice . ARACY Network: Knowledge Brokering Workshop, Benevolent Society, Sydney.

Bromfield, L.M., and Arney, F. (2008). Integrating strategies for delivering evidence-informed practice (PDF 281 KB). Beyond the Rhetoric: Evidence-informed practice workshop, Dartington Research in Practice, Dartington, UK.

Bromfield, L.M., and Arney, F. (2008). Developing a road map for research: Identifying the priorities for a national child protection research agenda. Issues Paper No. 28

Completed Research

The research projects listed below, undertaken by Clearinghouse staff, are now completed.

Indigenous led approaches to Indigenous child abuse and neglect

Through this research, the National Child Protection Clearinghouse aimed to explore the Canadian experience of implementing Indigenous led child welfare services in two Canadian provinces. Interview data was analysed, and categorized into five areas of interest for Australia, in terms of considerations for implementing Indigenous led child protection services. These were: considerations of what a truly Indigenous led approach constitutes, capacity requirements, the level of responsibility desired by Indigenous communities, funding models, and trust.

Please contact us if you would like a copy of this report.

Measuring child maltreatment: A comparison of prevalence rates in Canada and Australia

A review of Canadian child maltreatment prevalence studies was undertaken in order to compare best estimates with those reported in Australia. The review was undertaken to add to the existing evidence base for evaluating the efficacy of the child protection system in Australia. Sound epidemiological data is required in order to understand where, how often and to whom child maltreatment is occurring. An international comparison could aid in understanding possible strengths and weaknesses in the Australian child protection system.

The review found limited Canadian studies, several of which suffered from methodological issues, so meaningful comparisons were not possible. Some tentative findings were reported. Canadians tended to report higher levels of physical abuse and lower levels of child sexual abuse than Australians.

The main finding of the review was that further research, utilising psychometrically sound and standardised measures, is required if rates of child maltreatment are to be understood and meaningful comparisons regarding the efficacy of the Australian child protection system are to be made.

Please contact us if you would like a copy of this report.

Identification of cultural and linguistic background of families involved with the child protection system in Australia

The aim of this project was to assess the issues facing culturally and linguistically diverse people within child protection and identify the advantages and disadvantages of identification of cultural and linguistic background of families involved in the child protection services.

The results indicated that people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds face numerous types of discrimination within the child protection services. The majority of respondents also believed that the advantages of identification of cultural and linguistic background far outweighed any disadvantages.

The project concluded that identification of cultural and linguistic background of children and families within the child protection services would be beneficial in decreasing discrimination experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse families. Such identification would also aid in understanding the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse families and would aid the development of culturally responsive services.

Please contact us if you would like a copy of this report.

The feasibility of using internet communication technologies in child protection practice

This study explored the feasibility of utilizing Internet Communication Technologies (such as Skype video chat) to augment the delivery of child protection services within Australia. Two chief constraints, time and distance, had been identified in literature as significantly affecting the ability of social and welfare workers to deliver services within Australia. The research investigated whether or not the use of Internet Communication Technologies could help mitigate the effects of these constraints on the delivery of child protection services within Australia, with a specific focus on enhancing the prospects of delivering child-centered services.

The most important findings of the study were concerned with the ability of Internet Communication Technologies to augment existing child-centered practice; participants theorized that Internet chat could provide children and young people with a more comfortable and open avenue for communication with their case workers.

The study found that deployment of Internet Communications Technologies within child protection practice would be of benefit to young people, as long as certain considerations, such as the proper formulation of policy, were taken into account.

Please contact us if you would like a copy of this report.

NCPASS Review of Data Comparability Project

Commencing in 2007, this project examined rates of statutory child protection activity across Australian jurisdictions. Specifically, the project aimed to:

Holzer, P.J., and Bromfield, L.M. (2008). NCPASS Comparability of child protection data: Project report (PDF 1.3 MB). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

CDSMAC National Approach for Child Protection Project

Commencing in 2006, this project examined at a high-level the similarities and differences in child protection across Australian jurisdictions. The main objectives of the project were:

Bromfield, L.M., and Holzer, P.J. (2008). A National Approach for Child Protection: Project Report. A report to the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council (CDSMAC) (PDF 998 KB). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Bromfield, L.M. and Holzer, P.J. (2008). Protecting Australian children: Analysis of challenges and strategic directions, CDSMC National Approach for Child Protection Project (PDF 2.5 MB). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

National comparison of statutory child protection training

This research aims to identify commonalities and differences across Australian jurisdictions in the training of statutory child protection workers.

Bromfield, L. M. (2006). Australasian Statutory Child Protection Learning and Development Group. Child Abuse Prevention Newsletter, 14(2), 11-12.

Bromfield, L. M., and Ryan, R. (2007). National comparison of statutory child protection entry level training. Children, Communities and Families Australia, 2(1), 59-72.

Indigenous Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) project

This project, commissioned by the Australian Council of Children and Parenting (ACCAP), identifies best practice for Indigenous out-of-home care through: (a) a national and international literature review,
The recruitment, retention, and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander foster carers: a literature review (Word 1.3MB or PDF 2.3MB) by Nick Richardson, Leah Bromfield, and Daryl Higgins; and
(b) nation-wide consultations with Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Associations and other key stakeholders, and focus groups with carers, children/young people in care, and care-leavers.
Enhancing out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (Word 746K or PDF 1.1MB) by Daryl Higgins, Leah Bromfield and Nick Richardson.

In 2006-07, the Clearinghouse in collaboration with the Secretariat for National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) completed a series of papers summarising the key themes that emerged from these reports. They were published as 7 summary papers, in which we identify Strengths and Barriers in recruiting, assessing, training, and supporting carers of Indigenous children. Promising practices in out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and young people: strengths and barriers (2007) by Leah M Bromfield, Jenny R Higgins, Daryl J Higgins and Nick Richardson (PDF 1.9 MB)

In addition, a series of 4 booklets were developed Profiling Promising Practice in out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their carers. Promising practices in out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, children and young people: profiling promising programs (2007) by Jenny R Higgins and Nikki Butler (PDF 2.7 MB)

Neighbourhood effects research program

Using data from Growing up in Australia: the longitudinal study of Australian children to investigate the impact of neighbourhood on children's outcomes, this research is being undertaken in collaboration with researchers from other areas of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Edwards, B., and Bromfield, L. M. (2008, in press). Neighborhood influences on young children's emotional and behavioral problems and prosocial behavior: Evidence from an Australian national sample. Children and Youth Services Review.

National Child Protection Research Audit

With assistance from the University of South Australia, we produced an audit of research being conducted in the areas of child protection, child maltreatment and child abuse prevention.

National audit of Australian child protection research 1995-2004 (Word 628K or PDF 2.5MB) by Daryl J Higgins, Rennell M Adams, Leah M Bromfield, Nicholas Richardson and Melissa S Aldana.

Literature Review for Community Services Ministers Advisory Council (CSMAC) National Foster Care Working Group

In 2004, Cashmore and Ainsworth undertook an Audit of Australian out-of-home care research (PDF 1.5 MB), focusing on appropriate research projects. With results gained from the Audit by Cashmore and Ainsworth, this literature review to contributed to the National Plan for Foster Children by identifying international literature in areas determined in the audit as containing research gaps and by determining implications of findings for Australia.

Out-of-home care in Australia: messages from research (Word 1.6MB or PDF 1.7MB) by Leah Bromfield, Daryl Higgins, Alexandra Osborn, Stacey Panozzo and Nicholas Richardson.

This review was updated and published in the Child Abuse Prevention Issues series:

Bromfield, L. M., and Osborn, A. (2007). 'Getting the big picture': A synopsis and critique of Australian out-of-home care research. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, 26.

Literature Review and Research Report for Community Services Ministers Advisory Council (CSMAC) Child-Safe Organisations Working Group

The aim of the project was to provide a substantial literature report on risk factors for child maltreatment, risk assessment tools for use in child related employment screening, and data on abuse of children within organisations.

Understanding organisational risk factors for child maltreatment: a review of the literature (Word 1.9MB or PDF 1.6MB) by Lorraine R Beyer, Daryl J Higgins and Leah M Bromfield.

This review was updated and published in the Child Abuse Prevention Issues series:

Irenyi, M., Bromfield, L. M., Beyer, L. and Higgins, D. (2006). 'Child maltreatment in organisations: risk factors and strategies for prevention. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, 25.

Indigenous Community Development Evaluation

Following on from the successful contract that the Stronger Families Learning Exchange (SFLEX) had in 2004 to write up Early Learnings from community development projects funded by Telstra Foundation, the National Child Protection Clearinghouse will evaluated 14 Indigenous community development projects.

Indigenous community development projects: early learnings research report (PDF 3.3 MB)v.2, edited by Daryl Higgins, Telstra Foundation.