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Recent Australian child protection and out-of-home care research: What’s been done – and what needs to be done?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Judy Cashmore ,
Daryl J. Higgins ,
Leah M. Bromfield  and
Dorothy A. Scott
Judy Cashmore
Affiliation:
Faculty of Law, University of Sydney, NSW. Email: [email protected]
Daryl J. Higgins
Affiliation:
National Child Protection Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Melbourne, Vic. Email: [email protected]@aifs.gov.au
Leah M. Bromfield
Affiliation:
National Child Protection Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Melbourne, Vic. Email: [email protected]@aifs.gov.au
Dorothy A. Scott
Affiliation:
Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Magill, SA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

A research-led reform strategy is urgently required in the field of child protection in Australia. While international research can be a valuable resource, a strong research base which is relevant to this country’s needs, legislation and service systems is essential. Two recent audits of Australian research completed over the past decade – one on out-of-home care and the other on child protection more broadly – have highlighted significant gaps in existing research. There is a number of important topics that have not been addressed – as well as an over-reliance on small-scale, qualitative studies and a very low level of funding for research. This paper explores these gaps and identifies crucial areas for development, encompassing: the development of a national child protection and out-of-home care research agenda; adequate funding for research, especially for multi-site, cross-jurisdictional studies; and closer collaboration between researchers, policymakers and practitioners to close the gap between what we know and what we do.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , 2006 , pp. 4 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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