Children Australia Volume 46, Issue 2 is out now!

The latest edition of Children Australia explore the intricate challenges impacting children, young people, and families. In their Editorial, the three co-editors-in-chief reflect on Australia’s journey in prioritising children’s human rights, marking 35 years since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The issue also features a range of articles addressing critical and interconnected factors shaping vulnerable lives, offering a comprehensive lens on pressing societal issues.

Highlights include a review of advancements in understanding and addressing cumulative harm, insights into the iterative process of developing the Minimum Practice Standards for responding to child sexual abuse, and thought-provoking commentaries on children’s rights and voices within child protection, out-of-home care, and court systems. Additionally, an expert by experience article provides a poignant call for stronger legislative support for transgender young people, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive frameworks that safeguard their well-being and rights.

The editorial board is led by three impressive co-editors-in-chief, Professor Sharon Bessell, Associate Professor Tim Moore and Adjunct Professor Dave Vicary and is an open access journal, with the current and past issues now available to read for free through the journal’s new website.

Vol 46/2 contents:

Editorial

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Reflections on Australia’s progress and challenges -Tim Moore, Dave Vicary and Sharon Bessell

Review

• Revisiting cumulative harm: Reflecting on new research insights, legislative developments and coronial evidence as a road map for next steps – India Bryce

Research Methods and Reporting

• Developing Minimum Practice Standards for specialist and community support services responding to child sexual abuse –  Amanda J Paton, Victoria Parsons, Kim Adamson, Claudia Pitts, Leah Bromfield and Gina Horch

Original Research

• Coercive control and situational couple violence in families with child protection involvement: A case-file analysis – Ulrike Marwitz, Daryl J Higgins and Thomas Whelan
• ‘We have a part to play’: How children and young people want adults to engage them in the primary prevention of child abuse and maltreatment – Tim Moore and Morag McArthur

Expert by Experience

• The politics of invisibility: Why transgender youth deserve better legislation – Theo Boltman

Commentary

• Actioning children’s rights in out-of-home care in NSW: A focus on the right of family connection – Samantha A. Forrester and Philippa Byers
• Procedural justice and the impact of court and other decision-making processes on children and families in the child protection system –  Judy Cashmore

Do you have research results, key insights from practice, a literature review, a case report or a report on the design or implementation of a policy, project, program or resource to share? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Centre’s journal, Children Australia, welcomes submissions of original articles from diverse voices across the many sectors working towards improving welfare and wellbeing outcomes for children, young people and families. All articles are open access (free to read) and there are no publication charges for authors.