Australian Child Maltreatment Study, 2019 to 2023

Aim

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) aims to identify, for the first time, how many Australians in the general population have been exposed to the each of the five types of child abuse and neglect (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence).

Methods

The ACMS will use computer-assisted telephone interview surveys to interview 10,000 everyday Australians (including 5,000 young people aged 16 to 24) about their historical childhood exposure to five types of maltreatment.

Significance

In addition to capturing prevalence data the ACMS will identify long-term mental and physical health outcomes associated with exposure to child abuse and neglect, and calculate the burden of disease, or real costs, of maltreatment over the course of the lifespan, as well as assess their current mental and physical health. The findings from this study are critical to inform policy and practice to help prevent and reduce child maltreatment in Australia and is supported by the Australian Government.

Funding Body

National Health and Medical Research Council (Project ID: APP1158750)

Funding Budget

$2,311,217

Project start date

January 2019

Expected completion date

December 2023