Are Aussie kids OK? Preview data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

On this RUOK Day, we examine the impact of child maltreatment on later mental health. This presentation will share some emerging findings from the first ever Australia’s Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS).Importantly, we will be hearing about impact of child neglect and exposure to domestic and family violence on major mental health diagnoses (Major Depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD) in adolescents. It will also cover associations between corporal punishment and later mental health and the overlap with specific forms of maltreatment.The learnings around the long term impacts of maltreatment and potential prevention and early intervention strategies will be useful for anyone working with children or in the social services sector – both for policy and practice.

We’re honoured to be hearing the findings direct from:

Professor Ben Mathews, Lead Investigator Child Maltreatment Study, QUT
Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies
Dr Divna Haslam, Senior Research Fellow & Clinical Psychologist, QUT

The full report of the study will be released in 2023. For more information, visit the Child Maltreatment Study website.