17 October 2024
The Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP), founded in 2004 by the Australian Government and the University of South Australia, is celebrating its 20th birthday and two decades of helping to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect.
The ACCP’s public health approach to child protection saw it quickly gain influence across the sector early on, making major contributions to the first National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children and the National Research Agenda for Protecting Children.
Today, the Centre continues to provide leadership and input to national strategies and action plans as well as supporting Commissions and Inquiries nationally.
Current areas of focus include families with multiple and complex needs, preventing infant removals, child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviours, out-of-home care and issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Engagement at UniSA, Distinguished Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, says the ACCP has informed UniSA’s research, focusing on big issues, partnered approaches and developing new solutions that benefit society.
“The Centre’s focus on partnering with the sector to drive new approaches and outcomes in child protection continues to shape Australian policy and practice in this critical field,” she says.
Centre Director Professor Leah Bromfield says that the ACCP’s third decade marks a shift in focus to a transformation agenda.
“We know through our work across the past two decades that our child protection systems are not fit for purpose, and we must reimagine our approach to protecting children. ACCP is driving research and innovation to shape this transformation now and into the future,” she says.
“This new approach has the potential to be an example to the rest of the world.”
To celebrate its 20-year milestone and during Children’s Week, on Thursday 24 October the Australian Centre for Child Protection will present a free one-day virtual symposium, sharing the latest in ACCP’s research, solutions and insights, with more than 20 presentations from Centre staff, students, and partners across a range of priority themes.
Prof Bromfield says the symposium program has been designed to showcase the breadth of expertise and knowledge across the ACCP team.
“It’s our way of continuing to work hand in hand with the sector, driving new knowledge that can be applied, and supporting the sector and its workforce,” she says.
“This is how we can successfully continue to improve the lives of our most vulnerable children.”
Registrations and the full program for the symposium can be found on the ACCP website.
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Contact for interview: Professor Leah Bromfield M: +61 401 635 310 E: Leah.Bromfield@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
