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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
See: Chapman, R.L., Baselmans, C., Howell, T.J., Ronken, C., & Butler, D. (2024). Exploring the Benefits of Dog-Assisted Therapy for the Treatment of Complex Trauma in Children: A Systematic Review. Children, 11. https://
DOI: 10.3390/children11081017
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