Staff Directory

Professor Daryl Higgins Name: Professor Daryl Higgins
Professor and Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies
Email
Daryl.Higgins@acu.edu.au
Phone
+613 9953 3607
Organisational Area
Faculty of Education and Arts
Department
Institute of Child Protection Studies
Location
Melbourne
Saint Teresa of Kolkata Building(Bldg.421 - 115B Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065)-Level 9-Room9.05
Biographical Information

Professor Daryl Higgins is Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies. His research focuses on public health approaches to protecting children and child-safe organisational strategies. He is a registered psychologist. For 30 years, Prof Higgins has been researching child abuse prevalence and impacts, public health approaches to prevention, child protection and out-of-home care systems, family law, family violence, family wellbeing, and past adoption practices. Throughout his career he has published numerous articles, papers and reports that have made a significant impact on policy related to child maltreatment, both in Australia and internationally.

Before joining ACU, Prof Higgins was the Deputy Director (Research) at the Australian Institute of Family Studies, where he had responsibility for the research program, knowledge translation and exchange functions focusing on issues affecting families in Australia.

Prof Higgins has contributed to over 300 publications (including 85+ peer-review journal articles) and more than 600 presentations and media engagements. His work has a citation rate of 90% with a significantly high impact on policy development in child maltreatment.

He is one of the Chief Investigators in a National Health and Medical Research Council, Project Grant (APP1158750), 2019-2023 (funded amount: $2,311,217.00) to conduct the first national study of child abuse and neglect in Australia: prevalence, health outcomes, and burden of disease. The team of international investigators is led by Queensland University of Technology.

Publications

ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0268-8243
SCOPUS Author ID: 7202960352

Selected Publications (2014 - Present)

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Mathews, B., Papalia, N., Napier, S., Malacova, E., Lawrence, D., Higgins, D. J. et al.. (2023). Child maltreatment and criminal justice system involvement in Australia: Findings from a national survey. Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 681. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.52922/ti77215

Rayment-McHugh, S., McKillop, N., Adams, D., Higgins, D. J., Russell, D. H. (in press). Context matters: Conceptualising and operationalising the contextual prevention of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse Review.

Marwitz, U., Higgins, D. J., & Whelan, T. (in press). &ldquoKids are in the middle of it&rdquo &ndash Child protection practitioners reflect on indicators of coercive control and situational couple violence. Children and Youth Services Review.

Mathews, B., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R., Scott, J. G., Higgins, D. J., Meinck, F., Erskine, H. E., Thomas, H. J., Lawrence, D. M., Malacova, E., Haslam, D. M., & Collin-Vézina, D. (2024). Child sexual abuse by different classes and types of offender: Prevalence and trends from an Australian national survey. Child Abuse & Neglect, 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106562

Hunt, G., Higgins, D., Willis, M., & Harris, L. (in press). Scoping review of the definitions used to describe and understand harmful sexual behaviors in children and young people. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse.

Haslam, D. M., Malacova, E., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2024). The prevalence of corporal punishment in Australia: Findings from a nationally representative survey. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 147. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajs4.301

Higgins, D. J., & Hunt, G. (2024). Child, parent, and contextual factors associated with child protection system involvement and child maltreatment in the family: A rapid evidence review. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 147. DOI:10.1002/ajs4.306

Gonzalez, C., Morawska, A., Higgins, D. J., & Haslam, D. M. (2023). Psychometric properties of the Parenting Belief Scale in a multi-country sample of parents from high income countries. Child Abuse & Neglect, 147https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106565

Havighurst, S., Mathews, B. ..., & Higgins, D. J. (2023). Corporal punishment of children in Australia: The evidence-based case for legislative reform. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023021507

Russell, D. H., & Higgins, D. J. (2023). Friends and safeguarding: Young people&rsquos views about safety and to whom they would share safety concerns. Child Abuse Review, 32(3)e2825. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2825

Haslam, D. M., Lawrence, D., Mathews, B., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2023). The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), a national survey of the prevalence of child maltreatment and its correlates: Methodology. Medical Journal of Australia 218 (6 Suppl): S5-S12. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51869

Mathews, B., Pacella, R., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2023). The prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from a national survey. Medical Journal of Australia 218 (6 Suppl): S13-S18. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51873

Higgins, D. J., Mathews, B., Pacella, R. et al. (2023). The prevalence and nature of multi-type child maltreatment in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S19-S25. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51868

Scott, J. G., Malacova, E., Mathews, B., Haslam, D. M., Pacella, R., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2023). The association between child maltreatment and mental disorders in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S26-S33. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51870

Lawrence, D., Hunt, A., Mathews, B., Haslam, D. M., Malacova, E., Dunne, M. P., Erskine, H., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2023). The association between child maltreatment and health risk behaviours and conditions throughout life in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S34-S39. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51877

Pacella, R., Nation, A., Mathews, B., Scott, J. G., Higgins, D. J., et al. (2023). Child maltreatment and health service utilisation: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S40-S46. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51892

Mathews, B., Meinck, F., Erskine, H. E., Tran, N., Lee, H., Kellard, K., Pacella, R., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D., Higgins, D. J., Thomas, H. J., & Haslam, D. M. (2023). Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia. Child Abuse & Neglect, 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106093

Sawyer, S., Cahill, A., Bartlett, S., Smith, K., & Higgins, D. (2023). Do Australian paramedics understand their professional and legal obligations regarding child abuse and neglect? International Journal on Child Maltreatmenthttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42448-022-00144-7

Skouteris H, Green R, Chung A, Bergmeier H, Amir L H, Baidwan S K, Chater A, Chamberlain C, Emond R, Gibbons K, Gooey M, Hatzikiriakidis K, Haycraft E, Hills A, Higgins D J et al. (2022). Nurturing children&rsquos development through healthy eating and active living: Time for policies to support effective interventions in the context of responsive emotional support and early learning, Health and Social Care in the Communityhttps://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14106

Lonne, B., Herrenkohl, T., Higgins, D., & Scott, D. (2022). The implications of leveraging administrative data for public health approaches to protecting children: Sleepwalking into quicksand? International Journal on Child Maltreatment, 5, 501&ndash517rdcu.be/c0GPchttps://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-022-00126-9

Russell, D. H., Stewart, J., & Higgins, D. J. (2022). Safeguarding in church: Children and young people&rsquos perceptions of safety in religious and other faith-based settings. Journal of Interpersonal Violencehttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/08862605221117548

Havighurst, S. S., Chainey, C., Doyle, F. L., Higgins, D. J. et al. (2022). A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13235

Doyle, F. L., Morawska, A., Higgins, D. J., Havighurst, S., Mazzucchelli, T., Toumbourou, J., Middeldorp, C., Chainey, C., Cobham, V., Harnett, H., & Sanders, M. R. (2021). Policies are needed to increase the reach and impact of evidence-based parenting supports. [preprint] https://psyarxiv.com/732ws/  DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/732ws

Mathews, B., Pacella. R., Dunne, M., Scott, J., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Higgins, D., Erskine, H., Thomas, H., Haslam, D., Tran, N., Le, H., Honey, N., & Kellard, K. (2021). The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS): Protocol for a national survey of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, associated mental disorders and physical health problems, and burden of disease. BMJ Open 11:e047074. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047074

Russell, D. H., Trew, S., & Higgins, D. J. (in press). Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

Herrenkohl, T., Scott, D., Higgins, D., Klika, B., & Lonne, B. (2021). How COVID-19 is placing vulnerable children at risk and why we need a different approach to child welfare. Child Maltreatment, 26(1):9-16. doi:10.1177/1077559520963916

Russell, D., Anderson, J., Riggs, D., Ullman, J., & Higgins, D. J. (2020). Gender diversity and safety climate perceptions in schools and other youth-serving organizations. Child and Youth Services Review 117, art. no. 105334. https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1bZaPhNfKp93r

Russell, D., Higgins, D.,& Posso, A. (2020). Preventing child sexual abuse: A systematic review of interventions and their efficacy in developing countries.Child Abuse & Neglect, 102. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213420300508

Herrenkohl, T., Lonne, B., Higgins, D., & Scott, D. (2019). Ensuring the personal security of children demands bold system reform. International Journal on Child Maltreatment.

Lonne, B., Higgins, D., Herrenkohl, T., & Scott, D. (2019). Reconstructing the workforce within public health protective systems: Improving resilience, retention, service responsiveness and outcomes. Child Abuse & Neglect. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104191

Russell, D., & Higgins, D. (2019). Safeguarding capabilities in preventing child sexual abuse: A scale measuring knowledge, attitudes and skills applicable to all youth-serving sectors. Child Maltreatment. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559519870253

Sanders, M. R., Higgins, D. J., & Prinz, R J. (2018). A population approach to the prevention of child maltreatment: Rationale and implications for research, policy, and practice. Family Matters, 100, 62-70.

Higgins, D. J. (2018). Capability, treatment services and prevention strategies: Implications of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for the role of Psychologists. InPsych, 40(2).

Doidge, J. C., Higgins, D., Delfabbro, P., Edwards, B., Vassallo, S., Toumbourou, J. W., & Segal, L. (2017). Economic predictors of child maltreatment in an Australian population-based birth cohort. Children and Youth Service Review, 72, 14-25.

Doidge, J. C., Higgins, D., Delfabbro, P., & Segal, L. (2017). Risk factors for child maltreatment in an Australian population-based birth cohort. Child Abuse & Neglect, 64, 47-60.

Herrenkohl, T. I., Leeb, R. T., & Higgins, D. J. (2016). The Public Health Model of Child Maltreatment Prevention [Introduction to the Special Issue of Trauma, Violence, & Abuse]. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(4), 363-365.

Higgins, D. J., Kaufman, K., & Erooga, M. (2016). How can child welfare and youth-serving organisations keep children safe? Developing Practice: The Child Youth and Family Work Journal, 44, 48-64.

Scott, D. A., Lonne, B., & Higgins, D. (2016). Public health models for preventing child maltreatment: Applications from the field of injury prevention. Trauma Violence & Abuse [Special Edition on Public Health Approaches to Child Maltreatment Prevention], 17(4), 408-419.

Wall, L., Higgins, D., Hunter, C. (2016). Trauma-informed care in child/family welfare services. CFCA Information Exchange Paper no. 37. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Herrenkohl, T. I., Higgins, D. J., Merrick, M. T., & Leeb, R. T. (2015). Positioning a public health framework at the intersection of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. Child Abuse & Neglect [Directions], 48, 22-28.

Higgins, D. J. (2015). A public health approach to enhancing safe and supportive family environments for children. Family Matters, 96, 39-52.

Higgins, D. J. (2014). Past adoption practices: Implications for current interventions. InPsych: The bulletin of the Australian Psychological Society, 36(4), 8-11.

Higgins, D. & Davis, K. (2014). Law and justice: Prevention and early intervention programs for Indigenous youth. Resource sheet no. 34. Produced by the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Higgins, D. & Morley, S. (2014). Engaging Indigenous parents in their children&rsquos education. Resource sheet no. 32. Produced by the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Books and book chapters

Higgins, D. (2023). Child safety in a &lsquosystems void&rsquo: Addressing the gaps and overlaps between family law and child protection systems. In D. Tustin (Ed.), Psycho-legal concepts for parenting in child custody and child protection, Ch. 20. [Accepted 16 January 2023].

Te Riele, K., Sullivan, A., Higgins, D., King, J., McDowell, J., Guerzoni, M., Coopes, R., & Bessel, S. (2022). In M. Hopkin (Ed). 2022: Reckoning with Power and Privilege. Attending school every day counts &ndash but kids in out-of-home care are missing out. The Conversation. https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781760762995/reckoning-with-power-and-privilegethe-conversation20229781760762995

Higgins, D., Lonne, B., Scott, D., Herrenkohl, T. & Klika, B. (2022). Core components of public health approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect. In R. Krugman, & J. Korbin, (Eds.) Handbook of Child Maltreatment (Ch 22), 2nd Edition (Child Maltreatment: Contemporary Issues in Research and Policy, 14) (pp. 445-458). Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-82479-2_22

Lonne, B., Scott, D., Higgins, D., & Herrenkohl, T. (Eds.) (2019). Re-visioning public health approaches for protecting children. Child Maltreatment 9: Contemporary Issues in Research and Policy Series. Springer.

Higgins, D., & Moore, T. (2019). Keeping an eye on sex, power, relationships and institutional contexts in prevention institutional child sexual abuse. In I. Bryce, Y. Robinson, & W. Petherick (2018). Child abuse and neglect: Forensic issues in evidence, impact and management (Ch. 3), (pp. 45-62). London: Elsevier. https://www.elsevier.com/books/child-abuse-and-neglect/bryce/978-0-12-815344-4

Smyth, B., Hunter, C., Macvean, M., Walter, M., & Higgins, D. (2018). Education for family life in Australia. In M. Robila & A. Taylor (Eds.), Global perspectives on family life education, pp. 93-113. Springer: NY. Available at:

Bromfield, L., Arney, F., & Higgins, D. (2014). Contemporary issues in child protection intake, referral and family support. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia, pp. 121-129. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Hayes, A., & Higgins, D. (2014). Complex family issues: Collective awareness, common narratives and coordinated approaches to promoting resilience. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia, pp. 299-303. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Hayes, A., & Higgins, D. (Eds.) (2014). Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. [308 pp].

Hayes, A., & Higgins, D. (2014). Weaving a common narrative: An introduction to essays on families, policy and the law in Australia. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia, pp. 1-4. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Kenny, P., & Higgins, D. (2014). Past adoption practices: Key messages for service delivery responses and current policies. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia, pp. 29-38. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Research reports

 Higgins, D., & Hunt, G., & Respect Victoria (2023). Child maltreatment: A snapshot summary. Melbourne: Respect Victoria. https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/what-we-know-about-drivers-of-violence

Russell, D. H., Trew, S., Hunt, G., Dickson, J., & Higgins, D. J. (2023). The risk and protective factors, response to disclosure, and interventions for sibling sexual abuse: A systematic review. Australian Catholic University 2023. 

Walsh, K., Pinnock, R., Smith, R., Higgins, D., & Mathews, B. (2023). Rapid review of approaches to community awareness and education for child sexual abuse and children&rsquos harmful sexual behaviour. National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse Scoping Study Series.

Haslam D, Mathews B, Pacella R, Scott JG, Finkelhor D, Higgins DJ, Meinck F, Erskine HE, Thomas HJ, Lawrence D, Malacova E. (2023). The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report. Australian Child Maltreatment Study, Queensland University of Technology. https://www.acms.au/resources/the-prevalence-and-impact-of-child-maltreatment-in-australia-findings-from-the-australian-child-maltreatment-study-2023-brief-report/

Morgan, G., Butler, C., French, R., Creamer, T., Hillan, L., Ruggiero, E., Parsons, J., Prior, G., Idagi, L., Bruce, R., Twist, A., Gray, T., Hostalek, M., Gibson, J., Mitchell, B., Lea, T., Miller, C., Lemson, F., Bogdanek, S., Barber, U., Higgins, D., & Cahill, A. (2023). Healing our children and young people: A framework to address the impacts of domestic and family violence (Insights 01/2023). ANROWS. https://www.anrows.org.au/resources/healing-our-children-and-young-people-a-framework-to-address-the-impacts-of-domestic-and-family-violence/

Morgan, G., Butler, C., French, R., Creamer, T., Hillan, L., Ruggiero, E., Parsons, J., Prior, G., Idagi, L., Bruce, R., Twist, A., Gray, T., Hostalek, M., Gibson, J., Mitchell, B., Lea, T., Miller, C., Lemson, F., Bogdanek, S., Barber, U., Higgins, D., & Cahill, A. (2023). You can&rsquot pour from an empty cup: Strengthening our service and systems responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence (Research report, 01/2023). ANROWS. https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/you-cant-pour-from-an-empty-cup-strengthening-our-service-and-systems-responses-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-children-and-young-people-who-experience-domestic-and-family-violenc/

Morgan, G., Butler, C., French, R., Creamer, T., Hillan, L., Ruggiero, E., Parsons, J., Prior, G., Idagi, L., Bruce, R., Gray, T., Jia, T., Hostalek, M., Gibson, J., Mitchell, B., Lea, T., Clancy, K., Barber, U., Higgins, D., Cahill, A., & Trew, S. (2022). New ways for our families: Designing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practice framework and system responses to address the impacts of domestic and family violence on children and young people (Research report, 06/2022). ANROWS. https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/new-ways-for-our-families-designing-an-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-cultural-practice-framework-and-system-responses-to-address-the-impacts-of-dfv-on-children-and-yo/?mc_cid=5374f4df4b&mc_eid=ef17d31abd

Trew, S., Higgins, D. J., McDougall, J.D., Russell, D. H., Walsh, K., & Battaglia, M. (2022). Parent engagement in education for children and young people&rsquos online, relationship, and sexual safety: A rapid evidence assessment and implications for child sexual abuse prevention education. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. https://doi.org/10.24268/acu.8w9w4

Higgins, D., Walsh, K., & McDougall, J. (2022). Rapid review of data on child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour in Australia: Scoping Study Project 2. A report to the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse.

Walsh, K., Pinnock, R., Smith, R., Higgins, D, & Mathews, B. (2022). Rapid review of approaches to community awareness and education for child sexual abuse and children&rsquos harmful sexual behaviour. Report prepared for the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse.

Russ, E., Morley, L., Driver, M., Lonne, B., Harries, M., & Higgins, D. (2022). Trends and needs in the Australian child welfare workforce: An exploratory study. Canberra: ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies. https://bit.ly/38jTGjN

Higgins, D. J., McDougall, J., Trew, S., & Suomi, A. (2021). Experiences of people with mental ill-health involved in family court or child protection processes: A rapid evidence review. A report to the National Mental Health Commission. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. DOI:10.24268/acu.8w64y https://haveyoursay.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/stigma-strategy-resources.

Trew, S., Russell, D. H., Higgins, D. J., & Walsh, K. (2021). Effective delivery methods and teaching strategies for child sexual abuse prevention: A rapid evidence check. Report to Bravehearts Foundation. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. https://www.acu.edu.au/-/media/feature/pagecontent/richtext/about-acu/institutes-academies-and-centres/icps/_docs/effective-teaching-strategies-for-child-sexual-abuse-prevention_rapid-evidence-check_icps_202103.pdf?la=en&hash=B8F307A6123BE704ED9BE5AEB9D225EB

Russell, D. H., & Higgins, D. J. (2021). Children and young people&rsquos safety: 2018-2020 Report. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. https://doi.org/10.26199/sjap-kn57

Richardson, D., Dugarova, E., Higgins, D., Hirao, K., Karamperidou, D., Mokomane, Z., & Robila, M. (2020). Families, Family Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals. UNICEF Office of Research &ndash Innocenti, Florence, 2020. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1092-families-family-policy-and-the-sustainable-development-goals.html

Trew, S., Russell, D. H., & Higgins, D. (2020). Effective interventions to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours among children in contact with child protection and out-of-home care systems &ndash a rapid evidence review. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Muth, P., Higgins, D., Khor, S., McDougall, J., Robinson, G., & Lau, M. (June 2020). Child Abuse Royal Commission Evaluation Framework: For review of implementation of Child Abuse Royal Commission Final Report recommendations [A report to the Australian Government Attorney General&rsquos Department]. Melbourne: Social Research Centre.

Higgins, D., Stewart, J., Cahill, A., McDougall, J., & Medvedeva, A. (2020). Catholic Safeguarding Australia: A national office for oversight and coordination of safeguarding and professional standards for the Catholic Church in Australia (A report to the Safeguarding Steering Committee of the Australian Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Religious Australia). Canberra: ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies.

Cahill, A., Stewart, J., & Higgins, D. (2019).Service system responses to the needs of children to keep them safe from violence.Melbourne: Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies.

Trew, S., Stewart, J., Thorpe, R., Tewson, A., & Higgins, D. (2018).Family Foundations outcome evaluation.Melbourne: Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies. https://www.acu.edu.au/-/media/feature/pagecontent/richtext/about-acu/institutes-academies-and-centres/icps/_docs/family-foundations-outcome-evaluation-report-final-20190306.pdf

Cahill, A., & Higgins, D. (2018).Our goal: A consultation manual for working with children and young people on the development of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.Melbourne: Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies.

Healing Foundation with Adams, M., Bani, G., Blagg, H., Bullman, J., Higgins, D., Hodges, B., Hovane, V., Martin-Pederson, M., Porter, A., Sarra, G., Thorpe, A., & Wenitong, M. (2017). Towards an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander violence prevention framework for men and boys. The Healing Foundation and White Ribbon Australia: Canberra. https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/HF_Violence_Prevention_Framework_Report_Oct2017_V9_WEB.pdf

Scott, D., Rushton, S., Fong, M., & Higgins, D. (2017). Cradle to Kinder: Evaluation of early implementation findings from the Victorian Cradle to Kinder Program 2013&ndash15. A report to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies. Evaluation Summary [via &ldquoRelated Resources&rdquo]: http://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/family-and-parenting-support

Kaufman, K. L., Erooga, M., with Stewart, K., Zatkin, J., McConnell, E., Tews, H., & Higgins, D. (2016). Risk profiles for institutional child sexual abuse: A literature review. Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Scott, D., Rushton, S., Fong, M., & Higgins, D. (2016). Cradle to Kinder: Evaluation of early implementation findings from the Victorian Cradle to Kinder Program 2013&ndash15. A report to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Mathews, B., Walsh, K., Dunne, M., Katz, I., Arney, F., Higgins, D., Octoman, O., Parkinson, S., & Bates, S. (2015). Scoping study for research into the prevalence of child abuse in Australia: Report to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia in partnership with Australian Institute of Family Studies, Queensland University of Technology and the Australian Centre for Child Protection (University of South Australia).

Kenny, P., & Higgins, D. (2015). National Practice Standards for Australian Government funded Forced Adoption Support Services: Discussion Paper. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Kenny, P., & Higgins, D., & Morley, S. (2015). Good practice principles in providing services to those affected by forced adoption and family separation. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Kenny, P., Morley, S., & Higgins, D. (2015). Forced Adoption Support Services: Establishing and building networks. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Mathews, B., Walsh, K., Dunne, M., Katz, I., Arney, F., Higgins, D., Octoman, O., Parkinson, S., & Bates, S. (2015). Scoping study for research into prevalence of child sexual abuse in Australia. Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Sydney.

Quadara, A., Nagy, V., Higgins, D., & Siegel, N. (2015). Conceptualising the prevention of child sexual abuse [Research Report No. 33]. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Wall, L., Scott, D., Kaspiew, R., Carson, R., Quadara, A, Perriman, A., & Higgins, D. (2015). Evaluation of the co-located child protection practitioner initiative: A report to the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Edwards, B., Mullan, K., Katz, I., & Higgins, D. (2014, September). The Stronger Families in Australia (SFIA) Study: Phase 2. Research Report No. 29.  Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Higgins, D., Kenny, P., Sweid, R., & Ockenden, L. (2014). Forced Adoption Support Services Scoping Study: Report for the Department of Social Services by the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Mathews, T., Scott, D., Hand, K., Higgins, D., McHugh-Dillon, H., & Heery, L. (2014, June). The Evaluation of the Cradle to Kinder and Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder Programs: Interim Evaluation Report. [A report to the Victorian Government Department of Human Services]. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies & Murdoch Children&rsquos Research Institute.

Mullan, K., & Higgins, D. (2014). A safe and supportive family environment for children: Key components and links to child outcomes. DSS Occasional Paper. Canberra: Department of Social Services.

Stewart, J., Hedwards, B., Richards, K., Willis, M., & Higgins, D. (2014). Indigenous Youth Justice Programs Evaluation. A report to the Commonwealth Attorney-General&rsquos Department. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

Research

 

Prof Higgins is a Chief Investigator on the first national study of child abuse and neglect in Australia: prevalence, health outcomes, and burden of disease. It is funded by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council, Project Grant (APP1158750), 2019-2023. Funded amount: $2,311,217.00. Chief Investigators: Professor Ben Mathews (QUT), Dr Rosana Pacella (University of Chichester), Professor Michael Dunne (QUT), Associate Professor James Scott (UQ), Professor David Finkelhor (University of New Hampshire), Professor Franziska Meinck (University of Oxford), Professor Daryl Higgins (Australian Catholic University), Dr Holly Erskine (UQ), and Dr Hannah Thomas (Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research). 

 

Additional funding has also been secured from the National Office for Child Safety: $310,000

Experience

I have a PhD from Deakin University (awarded in 1999). I am a Registered Psychologist, and member of the Australian Psychological Society. My formal training in psychology has also been supplemented by my studies in sociological aspects of history (as part of my BA at Melbourne University, where I majored in History). My current research interests cross the discipline boundaries of psychology, criminology, sociology, social work, and public health.

I was a senior manager in the Commonwealth public service for more than 12 years &ndash arriving in August 2004 at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). I was initially manager of the National Child Protection Clearinghouse. Then from October 2005, I had responsibility as General Manager for a range of research projects and knowledge translation and exchange services to inform policy and practice across a spectrum of child/family welfare areas, as well as leadership and strategic management responsibilities across the Institute.

I was Deputy Director (Research) at AIFS from March 2011 to February 2017, with responsibility for the Institute&rsquos research projects and research communication outputs across a broad range of topic areas relating to families, including: family relationships social and economic participation and child and family wellbeing.

In February 2017, I was appointed Professor and Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), a nationally recognised centre of research excellence in the field of child, youth and family welfare at the Australian Catholic University, Faculty of Health Sciences.

Research&mdashin order to understand, and improve the circumstances of vulnerable children, young people and their families&mdashhas been my passion for about 25 years. As an academic in psychology, and then a senior manager at AIFS, and now leading a research institute at ACU, I have contributed to over 200 publications (including more than 75 peer-review articles and reports), and over 350 presentations and media engagements. I have led innovative knowledge translation/exchange functions that have increased access to the evidence-base for policy makers and practitioners working to protect children and promote family and community wellbeing.

Professional Memberships

Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency

Member, Australian Psychological Society

 

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