Alumnus dedicated to protecting children

May 2008

As director of Child Abuse Research Australia (CARA) at Monash University, Professor Chris Goddard (MSocWk 1982, PhD 1992) is committed to preventing and reducing child abuse, neglect and murder in Australia.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of Exeter (UK), Professor Goddard worked as a social worker. In 1977, he moved to Melbourne and set up the Royal Children’s Hospital’s first child protection team. It was during this time that he realised the extent of child abuse and the need to establish an Australian research group dedicated to addressing the problem.

“I felt that child abuse was more complex than people realised and is connected to many other problems in society such as drug use, youth homelessness and youth suicide. I thought we should be doing our own research instead of citing American research because the USA is a very different society with different problems,” Professor Goddard said.

In 2004, Professor Goddard established the National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse, an initiative of Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the Australian Childhood Foundation. Recently renamed CARA, the group (including five part-time researchers) provides evidence-based advice to government and child health organisations to guide the development of policies and practices.

Professor Goddard is a leading commentator on child abuse and child protection. He has written four books, 50 journal articles and 50 newspaper opinion pieces on the matter. He believes an important part of his role involves raising awareness about the subject.

“People would rather not know about child abuse and would rather not be reminded about it. A major challenge is to make sure that child abuse remains on the agenda and is adequately researched,” he said.

Professor Goddard's research and commentary have contributed to policy and legislative change in key areas such as mandatory reporting and child sexual abuse. However, there is still more work to be done, particularly in collecting coherent national data and delivering accountable services.

“I’d like to see Australia reduce the incidence of child abuse. I’d also like to see us respond better to children when they are abused, to listen carefully to what they say, and to provide them with far better services,” said Professor Goddard.

CARA will hold a dinner on Thursday 7 August to launch its ‘Protect and Respect the Child’ fundraising campaign. To sponsor or attend this event, please contact Melinda Maskiell via email or telephone on +61 3 9903 4649.