The ACCP welcomes new enquiries for partnership and collaboration.
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Collaborate with us
The Australian Centre for Child Protection is focused on developing the evidence base and practical approaches to help improve the lives of vulnerable children and families. The Centre collaborates with a wide range of partners at a state, national and international level, including government entities, not for profit organisations and other high-calibre research institutions.
We work in collaboration with our partners to understand their needs and to tailor a response or project which can best meet these to deliver the most effective outcomes. This includes developing new approaches, programs and solutions, founded on the latest knowledge and evidence base, ready for implementation into policy and practice.
Through the Centre’s broad ranging research and clinical expertise, we can support your organisation across the following areas:
- Research Solutions: Undertaking cutting edge, tailored research with our expert team of researchers, delivering new knowledge and approaches in preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect.
- Workforce Capacity Building: Supporting the development of new knowledge and practice skills across the sector, including through the delivery of online training courses or the development of specialised training courses.
- Policy and Practice Solutions: Supporting the development and implementation of fit for purpose policy and practice solutions, leading and informing policy development and new practice approaches, and supporting reform within the child protection sector.
- Expert/Advisory Services: Provision of expertise and advisory services to assist strategy, program or policy development.
To discuss your needs or to better understand how the ACCP may be able to partner with you, please contact:
Lisa McDonald
Centre Manager, Australian Centre for Child Protection
(M) 0401 635 310 or lisa.mcdonald@unisa.edu.au -
Study with us
ACCP welcomes students who wish to explore a career in research and for those seeking careers related to child protection policy and practice. The activities offered by the Centre under our study program provides students with opportunities to strengthen their research skills, become familiar with child maltreatment research, and engage with expert researchers.
There are many ways you can do this including participating in:
For Potential PhD students
The ACCP provides a supportive PhD environment under the supervision of our expert staff.
The ACCP, in partnership with South Australian Department for Child Protection also has current scholarship opportunities under the Enhancing Practice – SA Department for Child Protection PhD Research Program.
For Honours Projects
The ACCP provides pathways for UniSA Psychology and Social Work Honours students interested in pursuing a career in research.
Vacation Research Scholarships
The ACCP offers opportunities for students to complete internships under the UniSA Summer Vacation Research Scholarships program.
Placement Students
ACCP hosts 3rd year UniSA Psychology students to provide experience working in a rich research environment.
Contact us for more information on study opportunities
Hear from our students
"Completing my PhD at the ACCP has played a pivotal role in supporting my journey towards becoming a child protection expert, mentored by some of the leading and internationally-renowned researchers in this field. During my studies, I have had opportunities to work directly with partners in the academic, government and non-government sectors, including through a secondment to provide research expertise to the Northern Territory Royal Commission into youth detention where I informed more than 20 recommendations for reform to out of home care. It is rewarding to see how the findings from my PhD research, focusing on decision-making in out of home care, have helped shape child protection policy and practice in Australia. Undertaking this research journey with the ACCP has given me the skills to start a successful career focused on my core passion of transforming the lives of children and young people in care."Dr Jenna Meiksans
"Undertaking a PhD at the ACCP has provided me with a solid foundation for developing my skills, experience and expertise in the field of child protection. Studying with the ACCP gave me the opportunity to become an invited member of the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Advisory Board, which oversees the implementation of the 2018-2028 National FASD Strategic Action Plan. It has also led to me collaborating nationally with a number of organisations, including the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers South Australia, to develop and test early screening tools for young children. The ACCP has supported me to both develop my research skills and to make links with the broader child protection field as I head into the next phase of my research career."Dr Stewart McDougall
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Contribute to our research
Projects seeking participants
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Harmful Sexual Behaviour Response Mapping Tool for Out-of-Home sector
The Australian Centre for Child Protection has been commissioned to develop a Response Mapping Tool (risk assessment & enhancing safety) for sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people for the OOHC context.
We are seeking assistance from people who:
- currently work/volunteer or have recently worked/volunteered in the WA OOHC sector (inclusive of government, Community Sector Organisations (CSO), Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO)), AND
- have some understanding of HSB (or would like to understand more about HSB as all participants will have the opportunity to participate in free training), AND
- have had interactions with sexualised behaviour of children and young people in their role (anywhere along the broad spectrum of sexualised behaviours, from developmentally appropriate sexual behaviour to harmful sexual behaviour), AND
- self-identify with one of the below groups:
1. Residential care workers
2. Specialised and general foster carers and kinship carers
3. Cultural advisors and/or Aboriginal Practice Leads
4. Therapeutic staff, inclusive of practice leads, psychologists, and counsellors
5. Managers, team leaders, and quality advisorsIf you are interested to participate in this research project, please click on the below survey link and fill in a brief Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI should take you no longer than 15 minutes; you are not required to go into any detail, just brief responses to the questions, whatever comes to your mind first.
The survey will ask you to select a few demographic details that describe you, select one of the five participant groups and why you think you fit into the chosen participant group, ask you what your understanding of harmful sexual behaviour is, and ask you what interaction you had in your role with children and young people who have displayed any type of sexual behaviour (e.g., providing therapy to the child, living with the child, working in a capacity where direct exposure to sexual behaviour requires an immediate response, etc.).
If you are eligible and selected to take part in this research project, you will be provided a payment for participating in this research project. receive further information about the research, a consent form, and information on how to access the free online training Understanding and Responding to Harmful Sexual Behaviours. This project has been approved by the University of South Australia's Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Protocol 206140).
If you know anyone else who you believe would be suitable, please share this information and the EOI survey link with them before Friday 3 May 2024.
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Harmful Sexual Behaviour Response Mapping Tool for Out-of-Home sector
