AUSTRALIA
9 News
AAP
Leading Australia child protection expert Freda Briggs has been hailed a “warrior for children” who took advocacy for their welfare out of the shadows.
Dr Briggs’ family on Thursday confirmed the “wonderful mother, grandmother and sister” died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital the previous night, aged 85.
“A fierce intellect and determination to change the understanding of protecting children from injustice has been a force that has propelled her onto the world stage,” they said in a statement.
Dr Briggs’ concern for the plight of children began when she first encountered victims of abuse while working as a policewoman in London in the 1950s.
It grew into social work and teaching, where she focused on the need for increased awareness of child abuse, and in 2003 she co-authored a major report into the Anglican church’s handling of sexual abuse complaints.
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