Current studentsExisting staffContact us
 

Australian approaches to the disclosure of child sexual abuse: reviewing the grey literature

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorThain, E.
dc.contributor.authorPerfect, D.
dc.contributor.authorCollins, A.
dc.contributor.authorBorges Jelinic, A.
dc.contributor.authorBromfield Smith, L.
dc.contributor.authorO'Leary, P.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding of the process of disclosure for victim-survivors' of child sexual abuse (CSA) has increased in recent decades. Disclosure is a pivotal step in the healing journey for many victim-survivors (Chouliara et al., 2014). However, disclosure is rarely a straightforward process. It involves a complex interplay of interactions with individuals, communities, and institutions throughout the lifespan of victim-survivors. In Australia, formal conversations about CSA and disclosure were brought to the forefront by landmark events such as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (RC). The RC represented a watershed moment in the national understanding of CSA, creating significant policy and practice implications. Its emphasis on truth-telling not only validated the experiences of many victim-survivors but also underscored the societal and institutional failures that had compounded their suffering. Since the RC, shifts in both public and personal understandings of disclosure have continued to evolve in Australia. Social and cultural practices—shaped by repeated actions, learned behaviours, and systemic reinforcements—have been influenced by changes in media representation, government policies, statutory reforms, and broader cultural dynamics. The conclusion of the RC in 2017 marked a turning point in these narratives, with subsequent inquiries, such as the 2023 Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to CSA in Institutional Settings, reinforcing the ongoing need for open dialogue and systemic change. This report examines publicly available grey literature on CSA disclosure from 2017 to 2024, with a focus on understanding the broader cultural context and evolving attitudes surrounding disclosure in Australia. By analysing these sources, the report highlights how the post-Royal Commission period (2017–2024) reflects shifts in societal attitudes, practices, and approaches to CSA disclosure.
dc.identifier.doi10.25954/srrb-z428
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/41654
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection
dc.publisher.placeSouth Australia
dc.relation.fundingNational Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse
dc.rightsCopyright 2025 National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse Limited (ABN 41 656 560 570) January 22, 2025.
dc.subjectvictim-survivor
dc.subjectchild sexual abuse
dc.subjectRoyal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
dc.subjectdisclosure
dc.subjectsexual abuse
dc.subjectsurvivor
dc.titleAustralian approaches to the disclosure of child sexual abuse: reviewing the grey literature
dc.typeReport
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.fileinfo12298553310001831 13298553300001831 Archived Evidence
ror.mmsid9916941533001831

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
9916941533001831_12298553310001831_9916941533001831_NTRO_Output_20250122_NTRO Report CSA_Disclosure Grey Literature Review_Final.pdf
Size:
590.73 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Published version
Download

Collections