Responding to child sexual exploitation in Australia: Challenges and opportunities from the perspectives of case workers in a statutory care environment

Hallett, Sophie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7792-4453 2023. Responding to child sexual exploitation in Australia: Challenges and opportunities from the perspectives of case workers in a statutory care environment. Children and Youth Services Review 155 , 107273. 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107273

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (415kB)

Abstract

There is a growing interest in understanding and responding to child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Australia, but limited empirical research from Australian contexts. The research reported here contributes to the evidence base by considering challenges and best practices for responding to CSE from the perspectives of 15 caseworkers in a statutory child protection and out of home care environment in one Australian region. In so doing, the paper also offers insight into CSE along with consideration of the emerging practice directions and systems surrounding these in the Australian context. Findings point to potential problems arising from existing frameworks for understanding and responding to CSE. Participants held concerns about a narrow focus on young people’s sexualised behaviours in the wider multi-agency care context. This was understood to obscure a more complex understanding of CSE and its broader context of vulnerability and connection to unmet needs – some of which can arise from the care context itself – making identification and intervention difficult. Findings align with research that emphasises outreach and intensive support for young people centring on strengthening connections, identifying and addressing unmet needs and sustaining safety through consideration of placements and living circumstances. Consideration of practice challenges and opportunities signals the importance of child-centred, wellbeing-oriented directions allowing for multiple models of CSE victimisation, underpinned by a shared language in the multi-agency context and enhanced provision in existing systems.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0190-7409
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 November 2023
Date of Acceptance:	24 October 2023
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2023 13:57
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/163869

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item