The Pursuit of Excellence in Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect (PERCAN) in WA, founded from a $3,000,000 grant from Lotteries House, is focused on the research, development and implementation of cutting-edge, evidence-based therapeutic models for responding to child abuse and neglect across the WA context. This visionary new approach is aiming to build capacity within the sector to prevent, assess and treat trauma from child abuse and neglect.
PERCAN is governed by the WA Enhancing Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Executive Steering Group. The Executive Steering Group includes the Commissioner for Children and Young People and has senior executive representation from the Department of Communities, WA Police, Department of Justice, Department of Health, and WA Country Health. Representatives from both Parkerville, ACCP and the PERCAN Aboriginal Cultural Oversight Group are also members. The Executive Steering Group provides strategic oversight, monitors implementation and supports and guides the engagement of PERCAN with key stakeholder groups (government departments, non-government organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations). PERCAN governance also includes a Cultural Oversight Group.
At the forefront of PERCAN’s work is a desire and commitment to designing and developing a leading and evidence-based treatment approach for complex trauma. Sexual abuse and the impacts of abuse related trauma continue to be a devastating and significant problem, with up to 27% of Australian females and 12% of males reporting experiencing childhood sexual abuse. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that service systems in Australia do not have the capacity to meet the therapeutic and support needs of victim survivors, particularly noting the lack of therapeutic services for children and young people. Ultimately, it was found that there was a critical need for better evidence on effective responses to complex trauma and for high quality workforce development in the provision of evidence-based therapeutic services for abuse related trauma.
PERCAN operates across the following areas:
- Co-Design & Development: Recognising the crucial importance of culturally competent therapeutic responses for Aboriginal children, a key program of work in PERCAN’s is centred on the co-design of a high quality evidence-informed therapeutic response to Aboriginal children with abuse-related complex trauma, which can be adapted for use with non-Aboriginal children.
- Workplace Capacity Building: PERCAN is helping to ensure that practitioners who work directly with children and young people impacted by abuse are well-equipped to support them through providing access to high quality training in evidence-based practices for practitioners across WA. In response to the findings from The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, PERCAN is offering a suite of professional certificates, which develop the skills and knowledge of non-specialist professionals to better understand, assess and respond to childhood trauma. These activities will substantially increase the capacity of practitioners to provide effective intervention to child abuse victims across Western Australia. By focusing on treatment for children and young people, our aim is to prevent the lifelong and devastating impacts of unresolved trauma.
Resources
Burgess, S., & Paton, A. (2021). Integrative treatment of complex trauma for adolescents (ITCT-A) critical review summary. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Burgess, S., & Paton, A. (2021). Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) critical review summary. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Burgess, S. & Paton, A. (2021). Neurofeedback and the treatment of developmental trauma; A clinical review. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Cox, S., Thain, E. & Bromfield, L. (2022). Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for children and adolescents: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Chan, S., & Herbert, J. (2022). Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc. Therapeutic Treatment Model Practice Mapping. Perth. Parkerville Child and Youth Care Inc & University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Cox, S, Parkinson, S., Herbert, J., Tucker, E., Octoman, O., Bromfield, L., & Thain, E. (2022). Research Summary 'Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for children and young people who have experienced forms of child abuse: A review of the evidence'. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Edgeworth, P., & Paton, A. (2021). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT): critical review. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Edgeworth, P., & Paton, A. (2021). Assessment-based treatment for traumatised children: a trauma assessment pathway (TAP): critical review. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Hawkes, M., Paton, A., & Ibrahim, N. (2022). Child Trauma Professional Certificates Evaluation. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Herbert, J., & Paton, A. (2022). Parkerville therapeutic treatment model: client outcome review. Adelaide: Australian Centre for Child Protection. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Herbert, J., Paton, A., Bromfield, L., O'Donnell, M., & Lima, F. (2022) Parkerville Therapeutic Treatment Model Client Outcome Review. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Hovane, V., Sellers, L., Pickett, K., Mogridge, R., Pickett, L., Wallum, D., Chan, S. (2023), Truth-telling at the centre: An evidence-informed co-design of a therapeutic framework for Koorlangka with complex trauma. Yorgum Healing Services, Boorloo (Perth).
McDougall, S. (2021). Rapid evidence summary eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR for children with trauma. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Thain, E., Shihata, S., Paton, A., & Cox, S. (2022) Conceptualisation of Complex Trauma Report. University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Videos
What is Abuse and Neglect? - The five main forms of abuse, how to identify these and how they occur.
What is Trauma? - How trauma from abuse and neglect in children and young people can occur and affect those around them.
Common Symptoms -An overview of the common symptoms of childhood trauma.
Elements of effective Child Trauma Treatments - A summary of the many elements that need to be included in an effective child trauma treatment program.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TFCBT) - TFCBT was originally developed to treat PTSD in children who had experienced sexual abuse, however, research now suggests it may also be effective in treatment in children who have experienced other forms of abuse and neglect. This video outlines the use of TFCBT in addressing different areas of childhood trauma as well as the benefits and potential limitations in treating children with TFCBT.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) - EMDR is a culturally sensitive treatment program that is widely used across Australia, helping children to heal from the fear and difficulties that they may experience after a traumatic event.
Play Therapy - Play therapy is a medium to long term therapeutic intervention for children that focuses on allowing children to work through their trauma experiences in a safe environment.
