This presentation will outline the widespread nature and harmful impact of child abuse and neglect across the Australian population, with a particular focus on the mental health impacts. Data will be presented from the ground-breaking Australian Child Maltreatment Study, which provided the first nationally representative data on the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia. 

Part one will present the prevalence of all five types of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence) by age group and by gender.

Part two will present findings on the impact of maltreatment experiences on mental health disorders, health risk behaviours and health service use. It will end with an overview of how Australia must respond to these findings including a focus on prevention and early intervention.

About our presenter:  Dr Divna Haslam
Dr Divna Haslam is a psychologist with a PhD in the field of parenting. She is a childhood adversity researcher with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR). Her work aims to ensure all children have access to the safe, loving, violence-free childhoods they need to thrive. This has involved a broad range of work from substantial work in field of evidence-based parenting supports through to epidemiological work in child maltreatment and early adversity most notably on the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. 

In 2023 she was appointed by the QLD Attorney General and the Minister for the Prevention of domestic and family violence to serve on the Child Death Review Board which is tasked with providing government with recommendations to reduce child harm.

Webinar timing: 1:00 – 2:00 pm AEST

Access to the recording of this webinar: A recording of this webinar will be available through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Everyone who registers will be advised via email as soon as the recording is available. Members have unlimited access to the recording, and non-members will have access for 6 months.