Fitting with themes 4 System barriers and system change and 5 Campaigning for change
A brief overview of the progress and impact of Safecare’s community-based treatment programs for child sexual abuse and child internet pornography (CEM) offending as a way of breaking the cycle of child sexual abuse since 1989 in Western Australia. The challenge from inquiries and evaluations and the impact of political change led to the 2009 defunding by Government and subsequent transition to a self-paid model, including change in relationship with Police and lawyers. The current outlook in Australia with its focus on criminal justice responses only and mandatory reporting needs to be augmented by community-based responses and public health alternatives and a strengths-based wholistic approach to families where csa is a risk. The increased recognition of the prevalence of csa in the community means it is vital to provide more therapeutic interventions for those who have been harmed, those who have harmed and to develop prevention programs for those at risk of harming a child.
Presenters
Clinical Director
Christabel is a registered Clinical Psychologist with over 50 years experience in the treatment of violence and sexual problems and adult victims of child sexual abuse. She was Clinical Director of SafeCare Incorporated between 1997-2009, an expert consultant to the Ministry of Justice and member of the WA Parole Board from 2002-2006 and a member of the WA Board of Professional Standards of the Anglican Church from 1997-2015. She is currently in private practice, a single expert witness appointed by the Family Court of Western Australia, and Postgraduate Psychiatry lecturer on child sexual abuse. Since 2010 she has co-facilitated a community-based treatment program for child sexual offending and internet pornography based on the SafeCare Method.
During 2013-2015 she worked as a psychological consultant to Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service in Halls Creek and the Family Violence Prevention Unit at Marninwantikura Women‘s Resource Centre in Fitzroy Crossing with the Helping Families Heal program (wwwhelpingfamiliesheal.org.au) and, until December 2022, continued working in Halls Creek and Balgo on a monthly basis in the Make A Change program. Christabel has been a presenter at the six Perth Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Symposia in 2017-2023 and the European Conference on Prevention Research, Sarajevo October 2023. In September 2022, she was appointed to the Federal Attorney-General’s National Strategy Non-government Advisory Group to the National Office for Child Safety. In 2023 Christabel recommenced working in her role as Clinical Director as part of the re-establishment of SafeCare Incorporated (www.safecare.org.au).
