Child abuse and neglect reporting is challenging. No doubt about it. Challenging. The factors that make it challenging are very complex.
Centre member Natasha Ayling is exploring the complexities of this issue and leading an investigation for her PhD. Natasha is passionate about children’s safety and has found a niche investigating child abuse and neglect reporting practices to understand how educators can be better supported in their roles. She was motivated to study this topic after hearing the story of toddler Mason Lee, who died from injuries inflicted by child abuse. Mason desperately needed educators to step up and be heroes.
Natasha recently posted this article in The Spoke, the article explores some of the challenges for professionals when reporting. Natasha’s work is seeking to identify the barriers around reporting and contribute a deeper understanding of how collaboration among educators in ECEC services might best serve the goal of child protection. The insights provided by this research could potentially inform and significantly improve current child protection education and training.