Recipients of the National Centre’s inaugural grants round have been announced with a total of $2.99M allocated across 17 successful projects (13 research projects, four quality improvement projects, with an additional project to be finalised). Projects will span between 12 months to three years in length, with an average length of two years.
Significantly, this funding marks Australia’s first Category 1 research focused solely on improving understanding, responses and prevention of child sexual abuse.
Speaking on behalf of the National Centre, Director of Research, Evidence and Knowledge Generation, Associate Professor Dominiek Coates said:
“Commissioning new research is a key function of the National Centre and one of our most important strategic priorities. Previous research efforts on child sexual abuse have often been isolated to highly qualified researchers and institutions only, with little cross-collaboration or drawing on strengths across sectors and service providers. Our aim, therefore, is not only to fund high-quality national research projects, but to champion the sharing of knowledge and improve the reach of research findings. We are excited to be supporting such impactful research and extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the successful projects teams.”
In assessing applications, a rigorous peer review process was also implemented to provide quality assurance and transparency. Through this, a total of 40 peer assessors were recruited from across Australia and included researchers, practitioners, policy makers and people with lived and living experience. Recommendations were then provided to the National Centre Board and the Australian Government Department of Social Services for input and final approval to commence contract negotiations.
Projects funded through this grants round will address a broad range of topics, including prevalence and impacts of child sexual abuse, disclosure across the life course, therapeutic responses for children, young people and adults, educational interventions and community awareness raising, workforce capability building and training, justice and legal responses, harmful sexual behaviours amongst children and young people and prevention and drivers of child sexual abuse.
For the full list of successful projects, click here.
