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Power to Kids – National Rollout  

Posted by: Dilshad Zarine Posted on: June 4, 2026

This research aimed to conduct an action research evaluation of the process involved in MacKillop supporting residential care organisations to implement the Power to Kids programs via a Power to Kids “Package.” It was informed by the overarching research question: How can the Power to Kids Upscale Package enhance organisational capacity to prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence?

Objectives:

  • Reach of the Power to Kids program 
  • Readiness of organisations to participate in the program  
  • Barriers and facilitators in relation to implementation 
  • Value of Power to Kids training Package, resources, practice guide and self-guided implementation tool 
  • Value of Communities of Practice in implementation 
  • Organisational attention to voices of children and young people and to cultural safety 
  • Staff knowledge, comfort and confidence regarding sexual health and safety 
  • Children and young people’s safety in relation to child sexual abuse

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Final Report unpublished 

Link: https://www.mackillopinstitute.org.au/programs/power-to-kids/  

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au

Power to Kids in Foster Care 

Posted by: Dilshad Zarine Posted on: June 4, 2026

The aim of this research was to undertake a process and outcomes evaluation of the Power to Kids program in the context of home-based care.

The key evaluation question was: How does the Power to Kids program impact prevention of, and response to, harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence for children and young people in home-based care? 

Objectives included:

  • Explore impacts on the sexual health and safety knowledge of carers, case managers and children and young people; 
  • Identify changes in carer confidence to have Brave Conversations on sexual health and safety with children and young people; 
  • Examine case manager confidence in identifying HSB, CSE and DV; and
  •  Explore barriers and facilitators to the program; and outline implementation issues that emerged. 

Publications:

McKibbin, G., Bornemisza, A., Fried, A., Humphreys, C. & Gallois, E. (2022). Implementing the Power to Kids program in home‐based (foster) care: Identifying the SAFETY approach. Child & Family Social Work. 28(3), 612-621, doi:10.1111/cfs.12988 

Final Report https://www.mackillop.org.au/uploads/About-MacKillop/Publications/Research/Power-to-Kids_HBC_Evaluation-Report_Final_SMALL.pdf  

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au

Respecting Sexual Safety 

Posted by: Dilshad Zarine Posted on: June 4, 2026

The aim of this postdoctoral research project was to generate and synthesise evidence to inform the design of the Power to Kids program. 

Publications:

McKibbin, G. & Humphreys, C. (2019). The Perceptions of Australian workers about caring for sexually exploited children in residential care. Child Abuse Review. 28(6), 418-430, doi: 10.1002/car.2564 

McKibbin, G., Halfpenny, N. & Humphreys, C. (2019). Respecting Sexual Safety: A program to prevent sexual exploitation and harmful sexual Behaviour in out-of-home care. Australian Social Work.  75(1), 111-121, doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2019.1597910 

McKibbin, G. (2017). Preventing harmful sexual behaviour and child sexual exploitation for children & young people living in residential care: A scoping review in the Australian context. Children & Youth Services Review. 82, 373-382, doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.008

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au 

Power to Kids in Residential Care 

Posted by: Dilshad Zarine Posted on: June 4, 2026

The aim of this research was to co-design, implement and evaluate strategies to prevent and intervene early in harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence in residential care. 

The key research questions informing the project were: 

  • What are the components of a promising prevention program targeting harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence in residential care settings? 
  • What implementation issues arose during the pilot and how were they resolved? 
  • What impacts did the program have to prevent and intervene early in harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence

Publications:

McKibbin, G., Bornemisza, A, Fried, A. & Humphreys, C. (2020). The LINK model: A promising approach to child sexual abuse prevention education in out-of-home care. Child & Family Social Work. 26(3), 394-403, doi: 10.1111/cfs.12821 

McKibbin, G., Lynch, O., Bornemisza, A., Green, R., & Humphreys, C. (2024). Communities of Practice Support Implementation of Power to Kids in Residential Care: The EMBED Model. Child & Family Social Work. doi.org:10.1111/cfs.13243 

Final Report https://www.mackillop.org.au/uploads/About-MacKillop/Publications/Research/Power-to-Kids_Respecting-Sexual-Safety_Evaluation-Report.pdf  

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au

Amplifying the Voices of Victim-Survivors (AVA) 

Posted by: Dilshad Zarine Posted on: June 4, 2026

AVA aimed to capture the insights of child-on-child Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) victim-survivors about their experiences, impacts and service needs. 

  1. What is the nature of victim-survivor’s experience of child-on-child HSB? 
  1. How do victim-survivors construct their experience of child-on-child HSB? 
  1. How were constructs co-produced between victim-survivors and researchers? 
  1. How are victim-survivors impacted by child-on-child HSB? 
  1. What do victim-survivors need from the service system? 

Publications

McKibbin, G., Kuruppu, J., Hackett, S., Hamilton, B., Humphreys, C., & Lynch, O. (2026). “The Victims Become the Scapegoats”-Victim-Survivors’ Experiences of Children’s Harmful Sexual Behavior. Victims & Offenders, 21(2), 258-279.  

McKibbin, G., Kuruppu, J., Hackett, S., Lynch, O., Hamilton, B., & Dixon, S. (2025). The child behind the victim: Survivor experiences of children’s harmful sexual behavior. Child Abuse & Neglect, 163, 107277. doi.org:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107277 

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au

Collaboration to Harness Research Involving Safe & Together: Inquiry and Evidence (CHRISTIE)

Posted by: Rhys Lawry Posted on: September 20, 2024

CHRISTIE is an action research project which will extend the evidence base about effective interagency work for children, young people and families impacted by domestic violence so that they experience service systems that work as collaborative partners to keep children safe and together with non-offending parents. The project draws on practitioner expertise elicited through a series of interagency Communities of Practice (CoPs) and senior management Project Action Group meetings, including local collaboration and information-sharing.

CHRISTIE is the latest collaborative research between the Safe & Together Institute and the University of Melbourne, building on the foundations of previous projects based on the Safe & Together™ Model, including PATRICIA, Invisible Practices, STACY, STACY for Children, ESTIE and ALFies.

Researchers:

  • Dr Margaret Kertesz (University of Melbourne)
  • Professor Cathy Humphreys(University of Melbourne)
  • Cherie Toivonen (CLT Byron Consulting)
  • Dr Jamilla Rosdahl (University of Melbourne)
  • Marlene Lauw (ML Consultancy Pty Ltd)

Funding:

Funded by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence National Partnership Agreement administered by NSW Ministry of Health and DVNSW

Practice Guide:

Download CHRISTIE Practice Guide

Partners:

Project Dates: February 2024 – December 2025

Contact: Dr Margaret Kertesz

All/Whole of family approaches for addressing family violence: An Aboriginal lens on the Safe & Together Framework (The ALFIES Project)

Posted by: Rhys Lawry Posted on: June 16, 2023

This project explored whole of family approaches to addressing family violence when there are intersecting issues of alcohol and other drug use, mental health and child protection. The Project explored Aboriginal expertise on holistic approaches to this work, whilst at the same time examining the applicability of the Safe & Together model when working with Aboriginal families in NSW within the context of invasion, colonisation and Stolen Generations. The Project was Aboriginal driven in collaboration with NSW Health. The Project team was comprised of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers.

Publications

Final Report

Toivonen, C., Lauw, M., the ALFIES Research Team and Waminda South Coast Women’s Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corporation and Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health & Community Services (2025). The ALFIES Project Final Report: All/Whole of Families Approaches for Addressing Domestic and Family Violence – An Aboriginal Lens on the Safe & Together Framework. NSW Ministry of Health.

Research Team

  • Marlene Lauw is a Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal woman- Chief Investigator and Aboriginal Consultant, and Principal Policy Officer, Aboriginal Policy and Programs Team, Prevention and response to Violence, Abuse and Neglect. Government Relations, Strategy and Violence Prevention, NSW Ministry of Health.
  • Professor Shawana Andrews is a Trawlwoolway Palawa woman – Aboriginal Consultant to the Research Team, and Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Professor in the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.
  • Cherie Toivonen is an imperfect ally recognising her colonising background – Chief Investigator/ Research Project Manager, and Director of CLT Byron Consulting.
  • Jackie Wruck is a Yidinjdji woman – Consultant to the Research Team and Asia Pacific Regional Manager, Safe & Together Institute™
  • Irene Wardle is a Darug woman with family connections to the Biripi Nation – Chief Investigator and Aboriginal Researcher, and Program Director of the Extended Bachelor Program & Lecturer in Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies.
  • Dr Margaret Kertesz -Chief Investigator and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
  • Honorary Professor Cathy Humphreys – Chief Investigator and Professor of Social Work at University of Melbourne.
  • Associate Professor Lesley Laing – Consultant to the Research Team, and Honorary Associate Professor in Social Work at the University of Sydney.
  • David Mandel – Consultant to the Research Team, and CEO, Founder & Owner of the Safe & Together™ Institute.

Research Partners

  • Leadership and Staff at Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services.
  • Leadership and Staff at Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation. 
  • Safe & Together Institute

Funders

Funded by NSW Ministry of Health – Prevention and Response to Violence, Abuse and Neglect (PARVAN) Unit

Project Dates: 2022 – 2025

Contact: Dr Margaret Kertesz

DICE ‘ROLE’: Disrupting Child Sexual Exploitation – Researching Onset of Young People’s Lived Experience with Coerced ‘Self-produced’ Material

Posted by: Rhys Lawry Posted on: April 28, 2023

This project focused on how children and young people are being coerced to ‘self-produce’ Child Exploitation Material (CEM). This qualitative study utilised an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to hear from children, young people and relevant professionals so they can identity the various pathways leading children and young people to ‘self-produce’ CEM. It is anticipated that by understanding the events and actions that children and young people are subjected to, that prevention and response strategies can be further identified, refined and implemented to help keep children and young people safe from exploitation.

Read more about the DICE (Disrupting Child Exploitation) Project

Researchers:

PhD Candidate Genevieve Bloxsom was supervised by Professor Cathy Humphreys, Dr Gemma McKibbin and Dr Jennifer Davidson.

Funders:

A stipend studentship was provided by McKillop Family Services as part of their Power to Kids Program.

Partner organisations:

In addition to McKillop Family Service’s studentship, they also participate as part of the Advisory Committee. This project is a nested study within the DICE (Disrupting Child Exploitation) Project.

Project Dates: Oct 2022 – Oct 2025

Publications:

Sastre-Gomez, V., McKibbin, G., Bloxsom, G., Humphreys, C., & Dixon, S. (2026). The intersection of sexual and criminal exploitation for children going missing in residential care: patterns; problems; and opportunities. Children and Youth Services Review, 108894. 

McKibbin, G., Humphreys, C., Gomez, L. V. S., Bloxsom, G., & Dixson, S. (2026). Disrupting Child Sexual Exploitation: A Cautionary Tale. Child & Family Social Work. 

Contact: Genevieve Bloxsom

Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers and Access (SHEBA) Project

Posted by: admin Posted on: August 11, 2022

Abstract:

The Safe at Home, Experiences, Barriers and Access (SHEBA) Project drew on a strong partnership between researchers (University of Melbourne and University of NSW), Victorian Community Sector organisations providing family violence services (McAuley, Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand, In-Touch, Centre of Non-Violence) and women with lived experience (The WEAVERs) to understand the safety and effectiveness of Personal Safety Initiatives (PSIs) and Safe at Home responses to family violence more broadly in Victoria, Australia. The project aimed to hear from victim/survivors of family violence who had accessed PSIs, and from sector practitioners delivering PSIs and Safe at Home responses to understand:

  1. Key components of an effective Safe at Home response.
  2. Facilitators and barriers to implementing an effective Safe at Home response.
  3. Evidence of how Safe at Home responses can be adapted to ensure the safety of victim/survivors to accommodate: a) emergency or disaster settings; and b) diverse population groups.
  4. Gaps in the current Safe at Home service provision for victim/survivors in Victoria.

Findings highlighted key strengths and facilitators, limitations and barriers for effective implementation of PSIs and Safe at Home responses in Victoria across phases of access, implementation and longer-term use. The project highlighted practice considerations across these phases that can be implemented in different organisational and practice contexts within the current Victorian service system. Combining findings with those from evidence in the literature, the SHEBA Project highlighted 12 key components for effective Safe at Home responses and their delivery, contributing to international literature concerning Safe at Home responses. The project made 62 recommendations to strengthen these 12 key components and support an enhanced future state of Safe at Home responses in Victoria.

Researchers: Cathy Humphreys, Kristin Diemer, Jasmin Isobe, Heshani de Silva

Publications:

  1. Research Report
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & De Silva, H. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project): Research Report. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27889083
  2. Research Report – Executive Summary
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & De Silva, H. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project): Research Report. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27889083
  3. Policy Brief
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., & Humphreys, C. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project) Policy Brief, November 2024. The University of Melbourne: Melbourne, Australia. DOI: 10.26188/27957123
  4. Knowledge Translation Report and Practice Guidance
    Isobe, J., Diemer, K., & Humphreys, C. (2024). Safe at Home: Experiences, Barriers, and Access (The SHEBA Project) – Knowledge Translation Report and Practice Guidance. The University of Melbourne. DOI: 10.26188/27950151
  5. Evidence Review
    Breckenridge, J., Dubler, N., Lyons, G., & Suchting, M. (2024). Safe at Home Victoria – Evidence Review. Gendered Violence Research Network, University of New South Wales.

Funder: Victorian Government, Family Safety Victoria

Partner Organisations:

Project Dates: July 2022 – November 2024

Contact:

Associate Professor Kristin Diemer
E: k.diemer@unimelb.edu.au
T: +61 3 8344 9425

Stop It Now!

Posted by: Rhys Lawry Posted on: March 8, 2022

Abstract:

Stop It Now! is an early intervention program that operates in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the Netherlands, and has also previously operated on a small scale in Queensland, Australia. The central aim of the Stop It Now! service is to protect children and prevent child sexual abuse.

Stop It Now!’s key feature is a confidential phone helpline that provides information and support for people who are worried about their own sexual thoughts and behaviours in relation to children, as well as parents, family-members, and professionals who are concerned about actual or potential child sexual abuse. The service is staffed by highly skilled practitioners with expertise in working with people who may have perpetrated child sexual abuse. The University of Melbourne is undertaking the evaluation of Stop it Now! Australia in partnership with Jesuit Social Services.

Researchers:

Dr Gemma McKibbin, Julie Green, Prof Cathy Humphreys

Funders/Partner organisation:

Funding: Westpac grant

Partners: Jesuit Social Services, Google

Publication:

McKibbin, G., Kuruppu, J., Humphreys, C., Sastre Gomez, V., & Zarine, D. (2026). Acceptability of Stop It Now! Australia: Perceptions of service users, police and practitioners. Journal of Sexual Aggression. Advance online publication.
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2026.2659697

Project Dates: Jan 2021 – Dec 2023

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au