Royal Commission Releases Research on Information Sharing

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
May 20, 2016

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2016-05/royal-commission-releases-research-on-information

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released two research reports, with the first examining information-sharing frameworks and the second examining best practice in implementation.

A study into the legislative—and related key policy and operational—frameworks for sharing information relating to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts, considered the legislative frameworks for sharing information relating to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts, between institutions and across jurisdictions in Australia.

The second report, Implementation best practice: A rapid evidence review, examined the effectiveness of planned strategies to change or introduce new practices, programs or policies.

Royal Commission Chief Executive Officer Philip Reed said that along with private sessions and public hearings, the Royal Commission’s research agenda was vital in helping inform the Commissioners ahead of their final report.

“The research examining information sharing arrangements looked at a range of sectors, including out-of-home care, schools and juvenile detention, and consolidated the Australian information-sharing landscape in relation to legislative, key policy and operational frameworks, both within and across Australian jurisdictions,” Mr Reed said.

“The report found laws and common objectives across institutions can help ensure that children’s safety is the primary consideration when sharing information, while laws and policies for information sharing need to be clear and well understood to be effective.

“The second report demonstrates the importance of implementation as a factor in the success or failure of policy change. This report identified and critiqued existing evidence of implementation and identifies elements of best practice approaches, including behavioural change, planning and increasing the competencies and skills of individuals and organisations,” Mr Reed said.

A study into the legislative—and related key policy and operational—frameworks for sharing information relating to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts was conducted by Macquarie University’s Carolyn Adams and Krista Lee-Jones.

Implementation best practice: A rapid evidence review was conducted by the Parenting Research Centre.

The research reports can be found here.