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Gabrielle Hunt, PhD candidate
Principal Supervisor: Professor Daryl Higgins, Faculty of Education and Arts, Australian Catholic University
Co-Supervisor: Associate Professor Megan Willis, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University
External Supervisor: Professor Ben Mathews, Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology
External Supervisor: Ms Carol Ronken, Director of Research, Bravehearts
End-User: Dr Ursula Stephens, CEO, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd.
Child sexual abuse and sexual harassment are critical issues within faith-based settings, where unique cultural, theological, and organisational factors may impact both the prevalence of abuse and the effectiveness of safeguarding measures. This project seeks to inform stronger, evidence-based safeguarding practices tailored to these environments.
This research aims to bridge gaps in understanding how child sexual abuse can be effectively prevented within faith-based contexts. It also aims to provide a victim-centred perspective and examines the strengths and limitations of current practices from the perspective of religious leaders.
This research aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding practices within faith-based settings, including both strengths and areas for improvement. By examining the impact of religious beliefs and institutional structures on safeguarding efforts, this project hopes to identify practical, evidence-based recommendations for reducing the risk of child sexual abuse and sexual harassment in these settings. Ultimately, this research seeks to contribute to a safer, more protective environment for children across faith-based communities.
The research does present challenges such as navigating the sensitive nature of child abuse and safeguarding topics. Much attention has been directed to ensuring participant comfort and willingness to discuss organisational weaknesses, and balancing theological considerations with practical safeguarding recommendations. By identifying the unique challenges and opportunities within faith-based organisations, this project strives to offer actionable recommendations that can be adopted across faith-based settings to enhance safeguarding and, ultimately, protect children and vulnerable individuals from harm.
Method
A mixed methods approach has been used for this thesis. This included analysis of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) dataset, policy analysis, and semi-structured interviews with religious leaders. Religious leaders from various Christian denominations (e.g., Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Baptist and Salvation Army) have participated in interviews to share their experiences and perspectives on safeguarding within their organisations. Read more about .
Research questions and foreseen challenges
The primary users of the research outputs are faith-based organisations, religious leaders, safeguarding professionals, and child protection policy makers, who can leverage these findings to evaluate and enhance their safeguarding policies. The recommendations will support these groups in implementing more robust child protection practices, addressing gaps, and strengthening efforts to prevent abuse. Academics and educators in fields like child protection, theology, and social work will also benefit, using the insights to inform further research, training programs, and curricula focused safeguarding.
Australian Child Maltreatment Study
Hunt, G. R., Higgins, D. J., Willis, M. L., & Harris, L. (2023). Scoping review of the definitions used to describe and understand harmful sexual behaviors in children and young people. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(4), 2569-2583. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231218294
Hunt, G. R., Higgins, D. J., Willis, M. L., Mathews, B., Lawrence, D., Meinck, F., Pacella, R., Thomas, H. J., Scott, J. G., Erskine, H. E., Malacova, E., & Haslam, D. M. (2024). The prevalence of peer sexual harassment during childhood in Australia. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(23-24). https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241245368
Hunt, G. R., Mathews, B., Higgins, D. J., Finkelhor, D., Willis, M. L., Haslam, D. M., Lawrence, D., Meinck, F., Thomas, H. J., Malacova, E., & Scott, J. G. (2024). The prevalence of child sexual abuse perpetrated by leaders or adults in religious organizations in Australia. Child Abuse & Neglect, 106946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106946
Non-refereed publications
Higgins, D. J., & Hunt, G. R. (2024). There are reports some students are making sexual moaning noises at school. Here’s how parents and teachers can respond. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/there-are-reports-some-students-are-making-sexual-moaning-noises-at-school-heres-how-parents-and-teachers-can-respond-220136
Higgins, D. J., & Hunt, G. R. (2024). With reports of students abusing peers in primary schools, how can parents help keep their kids safe? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/with-reports-of-students-abusing-peers-in-primary-schools-how-can-parents-help-keep-their-kids-safe-241786
Hunt, G. R. & Higgins, D. J. (2024). Deepfake AI pornography is becoming more common – what can parents and schools do to prevent it? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/deepfake-ai-pornography-is-becoming-more-common-what-can-parents-and-schools-do-to-prevent-it-232248
Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee Application Numbers 2023-3004N and 2024-3530H
March 2022 – May 2025
For more information contact: icps@acu.edu.au
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