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Bravehearts Research
Bravehearts’ Research supports our lobbying and legislative reform initiatives to promote the protection of children.
Bravehearts’ research promotes an evidence-based approach to addressing child sexual abuse. Through our research initiatives, we strive to make an original contribution to the knowledge and understanding of this horrendous crime by ensuring that the voices and rights of children and victims are heard and that their contributions are included in the debate and development of community and government responses.
Bravehearts’ Research Team and Advisory Groups
Our research team works collaboratively with knowledge partners including leading researchers, Universities, State & Federal government departments and agencies, and is supported by our Executive Research Advisory Panel. Some of this work includes:
- ACCCE Research Working Group
- ‘The AVA Project: Amplifying the Voices of victim-survivors: Advancing the harmful sexual behaviour evidence base’ Advisory Group. University of Melbourne, MacKillop Family Services, Jesuit Social Services, Durham University.
- Child Rights Taskforce
- ‘Disrupting Child Sexual Exploitation (DICE) Project’ Advisory Group. University of Melbourne.
- Power to Kids National Advisory Committee
- Queensland Child Protection Advocates Group
- SaferAI for Children Coalition. ICMEC Australia
- Sexual Violence Research & Prevention Unit, University of the Sunshine Coast
- Stopping Gender Violence Advisory Board, QUT Centre for Justice
Current Bravehearts Research Projects
Building on earlier ANROWS Circles of Support and Accountability evaluation sub-research on victim/survivor views of reintegration/offender management programs, Bravehearts is working with colleagues from the Queensland University of Technology (Dr Jodi Death, Associate Professor Kelly Richards, Dr Michael Chataway, and Mr Chris Emzin), on a CRG funded project that will focus on the views of victims/survivors of sexual violence about sex offender reintegration
Reports and Publications
Background: Child sexual abuse is a widespread problem with far-reaching impacts for survivors that can extend into adulthood. Engagement in therapeutic intervention can reduce the negative impacts of child sexual abuse, however little is known about rates of referral to, engagement in, and completion of therapeutic interventions
following the disclosure or detection of abuse.
Objective: This research aimed to explore factors relating to completion of therapy, and barriers to therapy completion, among clients of a child sexual abuse counselling service.
Participants and setting: Participants were 581 child clients who engaged in therapeutic treatment at Bravehearts, an Australian non-government child protection organisation that specialises in the treatment and prevention of child sexual abuse.
Methods: Client demographic, referral, engagement, sexual abuse-specific and symptomology/presentation data was examined in relation to therapy completion rates, and specific reasons for disengagement were explored among subgroups of clients.
Results: Parental engagement in the child’s therapeutic treatment was shown to be a key factor associated with therapy completion, with clients who had a parent or carer engage being four times more likely to complete than those who did not. First Nations clients, those who experienced abuse by a sibling or by multiple perpetrators, and those who presented with more behavioural concerns at intake were less likely to complete therapy. Clients who were engaging at the time of an upcoming or current criminal court case were more likely to complete.
Conclusion: This research highlights the complexity of factors associated with therapy engagement, and the coexisting and complicating familial and environmental issues that may present as barriers to therapy completion. Implications for therapeutic practice with children and families following disclosure or detection of child
sexual abuse are discussed.
See: Chapman, R., Ebzery, K., Ronken, C., and Thompson, D. (2025). Factors that influence therapy completion in a child sexual abuse counselling service. Children and Youth Services Review. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108195
Research Information & Applications
Bravehearts endeavours to ensure that all research, undertaken by the organisation or in collaboration with the organisation, is underpinned by the values and principles outlined in the Bravehearts Research Policy document.
This policy is designed to outline the principles adopted by Bravehearts to ensure the ethical conduct of its research and research conducted in collaboration with external researchers. Bravehearts adopts the principles outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, and the Ethical Considerations in Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities.
To provide a transparent ethical approach to Bravehearts research, Bravehearts has an established Ethical Research Advisory Committee (ERAC).
To promote transparency and good research practice, the ERAC will at all times include, as a minimum, Bravehearts’ Director of Research, one other senior member of Bravehearts’ staff, and two external academics or researchers.
Contact our research team on research@bravehearts.org.au to obtain a copy of our latest research policy.
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The Government understands the importance of preventing child sexual abuse, increasing understanding of child abuse and providing advice and support to survivors… I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution your organisation makes in helping to keep Australia’s children safe.
– The Hon Jenny Macklin