Moderated by National Centre CEO Dr Leanne Beagley, this In Conversation webinar discusses findings from the National Centre's landmark Australian Community Attitudes Study.

Over 4000 people responded to the survey, representing all states and territories. The study explored peoples attitudes towards, knowledge of, and capacity to respond to and support victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, and children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours.

This In Conversation brings together the CEO's of the National Centre's three Founding Partners, the Australian Childhood Foundation, The Healing Foundation and Blue Knot Foundation, to explore the critical findings and what they mean for future actions to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, and harmful sexual behaviours.

The webinar will explore:

Critical findings about Australians attitudes, knowledge and behaviour.
Key implications for practice and policy.
Actions needed to galvanise collective efforts to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse.

Challenges 7 and 4 in Here for Change, the National Centre’s Five-Year Strategy, highlight child sexual abuse will not be stopped unless there is a comprehensive framework for addressing the power dynamics and factors which enable it and that children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour require adults to better understand and meet their needs.

This webinar is part of a concentrated effort by the National Centre to support the synthesis and mobilisation of knowledge to responses for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours.

Time: 12pm-1.30pm AEST

Where: Online

Please note this webinar will be recorded.

Featuring a live Q&A session with the speakers, all are welcome.

Speakers

Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM, President of Blue Knot Foundation, Chair of National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. Cathy is a medical practitioner, President of Blue Knot Foundation and has a lived experience of complex trauma. She has been a driving force within Blue Knot, previously ASCA, for over two decades and has held a number of board and key representative roles within the mental health and related sectors. Cathy is co-author of a range of seminal Blue Knot publications and guidelines, a prominent voice in the media and at conferences, and a national advocate for trauma-informed transformational changes and informed responsiveness to people experiencing the impacts of complex trauma.

Janise Mitchell, CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation and National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse Board Member. She is a social worker, CEO at the Australian Childhood Foundation and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care. Janise has experience in child protection, high risk adolescents, public policy analysis, program development and evaluation and has extensive experience in the development of innovative therapeutic programs for traumatised children and young people.Janise is responsible for the development and implementation of a number of national and state-wide therapeutic out-of-home care programs, child abuse prevention programs and professional education training programs. She has a Masters degree examining the policy and practice underpinning therapeutic care initiatives in Australia and is an Adjunct Associate Professor with Southern Cross University.

Shannan Dodson, CEO The Healing Foundation and National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse Board Member. Shannan is a Yawuru woman and CEO of the Healing Foundation. She was previously the Deputy CEO of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA). She has over 18 years experience working in Indigenous affairs and is a strategic communications and engagement specialist. She has extensive skills in management, campaigning, public speaking, media, writing, and community engagement. She was recently the Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee and worked on the Australian Marriage Equality campaign. Shannan is passionate about First Nations’ rights and understanding mental health issues, particularly intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Professor Andrea de Silva, Director, Knowledge Generation, Research and Evaluation, National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. Andrea is an experienced applied research professional, knowledge generator and thought leader with over 20 years of experience working across diverse areas of public health, prevention, social justice, and inequalities. Her skills include co-designing and evaluating solutions to complex societal problems informed by lived experience, data, evidence and practice-based knowledge. Andrea uses her expertise and experience to create evidence-based services, policies and laws, and drive system reforms to address barriers that harm, marginalise and oppress. She has led research teams in top tier universities and previously held roles as Research Director in several Victorian public sector organisations. In addition, Andrea has published over 150 research articles and reports, presented internationally and is an adjunct Professor at Monash University.

Moderator

Dr Leanne Beagley is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. She has clinical, leadership and legal qualifications and 15 years of clinical experience in child and family mental health services, with subsequent experience as a senior leader within health, mental health and primary care settings. She has undertaken policy leadership within government and policy advocacy from within the sector.

About the In Conversation series

Hosted by the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (the National Centre), our In Conversation series brings together experts from research, law, policy and practice to explore how we can work together to reduce, eliminate and respond to child sexual abuse so that victims and survivors are believed and supported to heal and recover.

About the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (the National Centre) is a partnership between three respected organisations — the Australian Childhood Foundation, Blue Knot Foundation and the Healing Foundation. Established in late 2021, following a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the National Centre commissions critical research, builds the capability of workers and organisations and raises community awareness to reduce stigma. Central to this work is elevating the voices of victims and survivors of all ages, life stages and communities