About CSAPP
The Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (CSAPP) began in 1995 and aims to reduce the incidence and impact of child sexual abuse among Victorian children. Winner of a highly commended award in this category in the 1999 Awards, CSAPP has expanded its services, and is continuing to address child sexual abuse in a holistic way by providing programs for teachers, parents and carers, as well as children.
What we do
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“With the adults, we teach them how they can best protect their children and support the children who have been abused,” Dr Reina Michaelson, founder and Executive Director of CSAPP, said. CSAPP also spends much of their resources working directly with children, which involves school-based workshops for children from lower primary to upper secondary school, small group discussions, creative art workshops and a country retreat. The workshops for both adults and children provide information on the extent of child abuse and techniques to deal with it, as well as providing preventative information on how to avoid unsafe situations and the signs that indicate a child may have been abused. The workshops have proven to be very useful, with many children applying the skills they have been taught to avoid potentially abusive situations. It also provides a catalyst for children and adults to come forward about their own sexual abuse. Due to its success, CSAPP is also now working internationally to replicate its model in developing countries. “In this job you see the darkest side of human nature. But to see the little lives whose potential could have been stolen from them, regain that potential and become happy and have a childhood—it makes it all worth it,” says Dr Michaelson.
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CSAPP model
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The CSAPP model has a community focus and promotes the integration of relevant government and community services in the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Parent Information Sessions are undertaken before the introduction of any programs for children / young people in order to inform parents and the wider community about the nature and aims of the program, to obtain the community's support for the program, and to give parents and other caregivers the opportunity to ask any questions. Workshops for Teachers are implemented prior to the student programs in order to ensure teachers are aware of the program and to equip them with the information and skills they need to support the student program, such as Mandatory Reporting requirements, how to respond to children's disclosures, local and other resources / contacts plus a range of other relevant topics. |
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A Response Team for each locality is established. The Response Team is usually comprised of local police and government protective services representatives, CSAPP staff and representatives from relevant community and government agencies. The role of the Response Team is to ensure that any issues that arise as a result of the program are dealt with sensitively and effectively and in an integrated approach.
Where possible, representatives from the local police, government protective services and local community agencies provide presentations in all programs for parents, teachers and students.
Programs for Students. The student programs have been developed from both evidence-based research and consultation with international experts in areas of child sexual abuse prevention from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Switzerland.
Where possible, representatives from the local police, government protective services and local community agencies provide presentations in all programs for parents, teachers and students.
Programs for Students. The student programs have been developed from both evidence-based research and consultation with international experts in areas of child sexual abuse prevention from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Switzerland.
CSAPP projects
Some of the projects that CSAPP has developed and implemented include:
- 'Healthy Relationships' program for secondary school students incorporating sexual abuse prevention, safe partying, positive relationships, bullying prevention and other related workshops for young people
- 'Staying Safe With People' programs for primary school students from junior - senior grade levels
- Specialist personal safety programs for children with disabilities
- Drug and alcohol awareness programs for secondary school levels
- Positive communication programs for all developmental levels
- Self esteem programs for all developmental levels
- A series of workshops especially `for vulnerable children and young people
- Staying safe on the internet programs for all developmental levels
- Tailored programs for children who have experienced significant trauma as a result of abuse
- Court support programs for children who require support as they navigate the legal and court processes in regards to their abuse
Evaluation of CSAPP School Programs
CSAPP has had many of its projects evaluated both internally and independently to ensure continuous improvement which has been fundamental to the ongoing success of CSAPP projects. In fact, the success of these projects in Australia has led to CSAPP leading the development of programs in developing countries including Malaysia and Vietnam.
CSAPP has also developed a number of audio-visual products and program materials to use in combination with some of its projects.
CSAPP has also developed a number of audio-visual products and program materials to use in combination with some of its projects.
