Why Didn't They Intervene? Examining the Role of Guardianship in Preventing Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Jessica Lockitch; Susan Rayment-McHugh; Nadine McKillop

doi:10.1080/10538712.2022.2133042

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Why Didn't They Intervene? Examining the Role of Guardianship in Preventing Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Why Didn't They Intervene? Examining the Role of Guardianship in Preventing Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Jessica Lockitch, Susan Rayment-McHugh and Nadine McKillop

Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Vol.31(6), pp.649-671

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2022.2133042

PMID: 36225125

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Child sexual abuse

guardianship

institutional abuse

prevention

royal commission

safeguarding

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

In recent years, the failings of institutions to safeguard children from sexual abuse have been brought to light through investigations and commissions of inquiries such as Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The role of adults as guardians, to protect children within these institutions, has been afforded particular scrutiny, highlighting past ineffective and harmful intervention and responses to abuse, and even inaction. Despite this attention, limited research to date has explored the barriers underpinning guardianship behavior in this setting. Enhanced understanding of the potential barriers to guardianship is key for informing improved guardianship behavior in the future. Using data from Australia's Royal Commission, this study applies Reynald's (2010) model of capable guardianship to investigate dimensions of guardianship in youth serving institutional settings. Three discrete settings were examined: outside school hours care, schools, and sporting institutions. Results support the utility of Reynald's (2010) model for advancing knowledge about guardianship behavior in youth serving institutions, providing valuable lessons for future policy directions, to enhance safeguarding practices.

Details

Title: Why Didn't They Intervene? Examining the Role of Guardianship in Preventing Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Jessica Lockitch (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Susan Rayment-McHugh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Nadine McKillop (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Publication details: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Vol.31(6), pp.649-671
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2133042
ISSN: 1547-0679
PMID: 36225125
Organisation Unit: Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Indigenous Services - Legacy; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99681397002621
Output Type: Journal article

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