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Professor Leah Bromfield

  • Co-Director: Australian Centre for Child Protection Education Arts and Social Sciences Divisional Office
  • City East Campus (UH3-02A)
  • tel +61 8 830 22924
  • fax +61 8 830 22953
  • email Leah.Bromfield@unisa.edu.au
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About me

About me

Professor Leah Bromfield
  • Child Protection
  • Cumulative Harm
  • Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Professor Leah Bromfield is one of Australia's foremost child protection researchers and is Co-Director at the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

She is a well-regarded research expert in issues affecting child protection systems, chronic maltreatment and cumulative harm, and has worked closely with state, national and international governments on establishing and implementing child welfare reforms, including the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children.

Professor Bromfield was  the Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established by the Australian government and lead its extensive research program.

She won the 2017 Telstra Business Women's... Read more

Education Arts and Social Sciences Divisional Office

Our programs reflect our diverse and interrelated society, focusing on applied research and educating future professionals.

Other UniSA associations

  • Australian Centre for Child Protection
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  • Orcid
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About me

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About me

Professor Leah Bromfield is one of Australia's foremost child protection researchers and is Co-Director at the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

She is a well-regarded research expert in issues affecting child protection systems, chronic maltreatment and cumulative harm, and has worked closely with state, national and international governments on establishing and implementing child welfare reforms, including the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children.

Professor Bromfield was  the Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established by the Australian government and lead its extensive research program.

She won the 2017 Telstra Business Women's Award for Public Sector and Academia.

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Professional Associations

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Experience

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy Deakin University

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) Deakin University

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) Deakin University

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  • About me
  • Experience
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Research

Research themes

  • Healthy futures

Research focus

  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Policy and Administration
  • Public Health and Health Services
  • Applied Economics

Highlights

Child protection, including intake and assessment, national and international comparisons, and multiply referred families

Child abuse and neglect, including prevalence and incidence, chronic maltreatment and cumulative harm, and maltreatment definitions

Multiple and complex problems and child abuse and neglect

Research dissemination,knowledge translation and exchange, implementation science

Public health approaches and child protection systems design

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Research

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Projects

Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.

  • Parkerville – Responding Effectively to Child Sexual Abuse Research Program, Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc., 01/03/2018 - 28/02/2021

  • Cumulative Harm: The Outcomes, Risk and protective Factors Associated with Chronic Maltreatment, Department for Education and Child Development, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2019

  • EIRD Perpetrator Desktop Evaluation and Information, Department of Premier & Cabinet - SA, 28/03/2018 - 30/06/2018

  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Child Advocacy Centres, Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc., 03/01/2014 - 31/05/2018

  • Harmful Sexual Behaviours Consultancy and Research Services, Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia, 03/10/2017 - 15/12/2017

  • Research support for the NSW Ombudsmans Review of the Joint Investigation Response Team, New South Wales Ombudsman, 07/10/2016 - 31/01/2017

  • CaPS Planning and Implementation Project (FAC Panel), Department of Social Services, 15/06/2015 - 30/11/2016

  • Outcomes Measurement Project (FAC Panel), Department of Social Services, 15/06/2015 - 30/11/2016

  • Neglect Literature Review, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, 25/09/2016 - 20/11/2016

  • Fathers, Family Violence and Intervention Challenges (Industry Partner), The University of Melbourne, 01/01/2016 - 30/06/2016

  • Fathers, Family Violence and Intervention Challenges, ARC - Linkage Project, 01/07/2013 - 30/06/2016

  • Post-doctoral research fellow for the signs of safety-child protection framework, Government of Western Australia, 23/11/2012 - 30/01/2016

  • Stream Three: Building Sector Capacity: Services to Children, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI), 01/08/2011 - 30/11/2013

  • Child protection systems: an international comparison of good practice, Bern University of Applied Sciences (BUAS), 01/04/2011 - 29/02/2012

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Research

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Outputs

Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Books

Year Output
2012

Bromfield, LM, Sutherland, K & Parker, R 2012, Families with multiple and complex needs: Best interests case practice model specialist practice resource, Victorian Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia.

Open access

Chapters

Year Output
2015

Arney, F, Bromfield, L & McDougall, S 2015, 'Research in child protection: an Australian perspective', in L Waterhouse & J McGhee (eds), Challenging child protection: New directions in safeguarding children, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, UK, ch. 8, pp. 100-109.

2015

Bromfield, L 2015, 'The role of mandatory reporting in preventative child welfare reforms: an uneasy fit?', in B Mathews & D C Bross (eds), Mandatory reporting laws and the identification of severe child abuse and neglect, Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, ch. 22, pp. 467-490.

3
2014

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, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, ch. 13, pp. 121-129.

Open access
2012

Arney, FM, Bromfield, LM, Lewig, KA, Michaux, A, Antcliff, G & Mildon, R 2012, 'Facilitating evidence-informed practice: participatory knowledge translation and exchange', in K Dill & W Shera (eds), Implementing evidence-informed practice: international perspectives, Canadian Scholars' Press, Toronto, Canada, ch. 12, pp. 173 - 189.

2010

Arney, FM, Lewig, KA, Bromfield-Smith, L & Holzer, P 2010, 'Using evidence-informed practice to support vulnerable families', in fiona Arney & Dorothy Scott, Working with Vulnerable Families, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 247-274.

Journal Articles

Year Output
2018

Cox, R, Skouteris, H, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M, McCabe, M, Watson, B, Fredrickson, J, Jones, AD, Omerogullari, S, Stanton, K, Bromfield, L & Hardy, LL 2018, 'A qualitative exploration of coordinators' and carers' perceptions of the healthy eating, active living (HEAL) programme in residential care', Child abuse review, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 122-136.

4 4
2018

Herbert, JL, Walsh, W & Bromfield, L 2018, 'A national survey of characteristics of child advocacy centers in the United States: do the flagship models match those in broader practice?', Child abuse & neglect, vol. 76, pp. 583-595.

9
2017

Cox, R, Skouteris, H, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M, Watson, B, Jones, AD, Omerogullari, S, Stanton, K, Bromfield, L & Hardy, L 2017, 'The healthy eating, active living (HEAL) study: outcomes, lessons learnt and future recommendations', Child abuse review, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 196-214.

3 3 10
2017

Herbert, JL & Bromfield, L 2017, 'Better together? A review of evidence for multi-disciplinary teams responding to physical and sexual child abuse', Trauma, violence, & abuse, online, pp. 1-15.

Open access 9
2017

Mathews, B, Bromfield, LM, Walsh, K, Cheng, Q & Norman, RE 2017, 'Reports of child sexual abuse of boys and girls: longitudinal trends over a 20-year period in Victoria, Australia', Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 66, pp. 9-22.

5 4 5
2016

Herbert, JL & Bromfield, L 2016, 'Evidence for the efficacy of the Child Advocacy Center model: A systematic review', Trauma, violence and abuse: a review journal, v. 17, no. 3, pp. 341-357.

Open access 5 4 7
2015

Salveron, M, Bromfield, L, Kirika, C, Simmons, J, Murphy, T & Turnell, A 2015, 'Changing the way we do child protection': The implementation of Signs of Safety® within the Western Australia Department for Child Protection and Family Support', Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 48, pp. 126-139.

9 8 1
2015

Spratt, T, Nett, J, Bromfield, LM, Hietamäki, J, Kindler, H & Ponnert, L 2015, 'Child protection in Europe: development of an international cross-comparison model to inform national policies and practices', British journal of social work, vol. 2014, pp. 1-18.

8 3 30
2013

Parkinson, SA & Bromfield, L 2013, 'Recruiting young adults to child maltreatment research through Facebook: A feasibility study', Child abuse and neglect, vol. 37, no. 9, pp. 716-720.

8 6
2013

Salveron, M, Finan, S & Bromfield, L 2013, ''Why wait?': Engaging with children and young people in child protection research to inform practice', Developing Practice, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 24-34.

2012

Guthridge, SL, Ryan, P, Condon, JR, Bromfield, LM, Moss, JR & Lynch, JW 2012, 'Trends in reports of child maltreatment in the Northern Territory, 1999-2010', Medical journal of Australia, vol. 197, no. 11/12, pp. 637-641.

5 4
2011

Bromfield, L 2011, 'Minimising cumulative harm for vulnerable children: does the green paper reflect international best practice?', SSPA News, vol. no. , pp. 1-4.

2011

Price-Robertson, R & Bromfield, L 2011, 'Risk assessment in child protection', NCPC Resource sheet, pp. 1-6.

2010

Bromfield-Smith, LM & Horsfall, B 2010, 'Child abuse and neglect statistics', NCPC Resource Sheet, vol. no. , pp. 1-6.

2010

Bromfield-Smith, LM, Lamont, A, Parker, R & Horsfall, B 2010, 'Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children in families with multiple and complex problems', Child Abuse Prevention Issues.

2010

Edwards, B & Bromfield-Smith, LM 2010, 'Neighbourhood influences on young children's emotional and behavioral problems', Family Matters, vol. 84, pp. 7-19.

Open access 8
2010

Horsfall, B, Bromfield-Smith, LM & McDonald, M 2010, 'Are social marketing campaigns effective in preventing child abuse and neglect?', Child Abuse Prevention Issues, vol. 32, pp. 1-28.

2010

Humphreys, C, Holzer, P, Scott, DA, Arney, FM, Bromfield, L, Higgins, D & Lewig, KA 2010, 'The planets aligned: is child protection policy reform good luck or good management?', Australian social work, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 145-163.

6 6
2010

Lewig, K, Scott, D, Holzer, P, Arney, F, Humphreys, C & Bromfield, L 2010, 'The role of research in child protection policy reform: a case study of South Australia', Evidence and policy, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 461-482.

3 2
2010

Price-Robertson, R, Bromfield-Smith, LM & Vassallo, S 2010, 'Prevalence Matters: estimating the extent of child maltreatment in Australia', Developing Practice, vol. 26, pp. 12-20.

2010

Price-Robertson, R, Smart, D & Bromfield-Smith, LM 2010, 'Family is for life - Connections between childhood family experiences and wellbeing in early adulthood', Family Matters, vol. 85, pp. 7-17.

Open access
2009

Arney, FM, Bromfield-Smith, L, Lewig, KA & Holzer, P 2009, 'Integrating strategies for delivering evidence-informed practice', Evidence and Policy, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 179-191.

11
2009

Edwards, B & Bromfield-Smith, LM 2009, 'Neighborhood influences on young children's conduct problems and pro-social behaviour: Evidence from an Australian national sample', Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 317-324.

32 37 3
2009

Lamont, A & Bromfield-Smith, LM 2009, 'Parental intellectual disability and child protection: Key issues', Child Abuse Prevention Issues, no. 31, pp. 1-20.

2008

Bromfield-Smith, L & Arney, FM 2008, 'Developing a road map for research: Identifying the priorities for a national child protection research agenda', Child Abuse Prevention Issues, vol. 28, pp. 1-14.

2008

Bromfield-Smith, LM & Osborn, A 2008, 'Australian Research Investigating Residential and Specialised Models of Care: A Systematic Review ', Developing Practice, no. 20, pp. 23-32.

2008

Gillingham, P & Bromfield-Smith, LM 2008, 'Child protection, risk assessment and blame ideology ', Children Australia, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 18-24.

Open access

Reports

Year Output
2018

Herbert, JL & Bromfield, L 2018, National comparison of cross-agency practice in investigating and responding to severe child abuse, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australia.

Open access
2017

Bromfield, L, Hirte, C, Octoman, O & Katz, I 2017, Child sexual abuse in Australian institutional contexts 2008-13: Findings from administrative data, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Australia.

Open access
2017

Herbert, J & Bromfield, L 2017, Components of effective cross-agency responses to abuse - a report for the NSW Ombudsman's Office, NSW Ombudsman's Office, New South Wales.

Open access 3
2017

Herbert, J & Bromfield, L 2017, Multiagency Investigation Support Team (MIST) pilot: evaluation report, University of South Australia, South Australia.

Open access 3
2017

Herbert, J & Bromfield, L 2017, National comparison of cross-agency practice in investigating and responding to severe child abuse - A report for the NSW Ombudsman's Office, NSW Ombudsman's Office, New South Wales.

Open access 3
2017

Meiksans, J, Bromfield, L & Ey, L-A 2017, A continuum of responses for harmful sexual behaviours: an issues paper for Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection (UniSA), Australia.

Open access
2017

Parkinson, S, Bromfield, L, McDougall, S & Salveron, M 2017, Child neglect: Key concepts and risk factors, Australian Centre for Child Protection, Australia.

Open access
2016

Herbert, JL & Bromfield, L 2016, Evaluation of the multi-agency investigation & support team pilot: interim report, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Australia.

Open access
2012

Bromfield, L 2012, Child protection in Australia, The Swiss Project Fund for Child Protection, Switzerland.

Open access
2012

Mathews, B & Bromfield, L 2012, Australian laws and policies on child neglect, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Colorado, USA.

2012

Spratt, T, Bromfield, L, Nett, J, Hietamaki, J, Kindler, H & Ponnert, L 2012, Cross national analyses of good practices and derived recommendations, The Swiss Project Fund for Child Protection, Switzerland.

Open access
2011

Arney, F & Bromfield, L 2011, An integrated framework for child safety and wellbeing in the Northern Territory, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australia.

Open access
2011

Jordan, B, Sketchley, R, Bromfield, LM, Antcliff, G & Lamont, A 2011, Practice guide 2: infants at risk of abuse and neglect, Benevolent Society, Australia.

Open access
2010

Jordan, B, Sketchley, R, Bromfield-Smith, LM & Miller, R 2010, Infants and their families - Best interests case practice model, specialist practice resource, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Australia.

2010

Miller, R & Bromfield, L 2010, Cumulative harm: best interests case practice model specialist practice resource, Victorian Government, Australia.

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Research

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Current research & highlights

Child protection, including intake and assessment, national and international comparisons, and multiply referred families

Child abuse and neglect, including prevalence and incidence, chronic maltreatment and cumulative harm, and maltreatment definitions

Multiple and complex problems and child abuse and neglect

Research dissemination,knowledge translation and exchange, implementation science

Public health approaches and child protection systems design

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  • Projects
  • Outputs
  • Current research & highlights
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External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Highlights

Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

 2017 Telstra Business Women's Awards, Public Sector and Academia. State and National Winner

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External engagement & recognition

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Collaborations

Organisation Country
Australian Catholic University AUSTRALIA
Australian Institute of Family Studies AUSTRALIA
Bern University of Applied Sciences SWITZERLAND
Berry Street Incorporated AUSTRALIA
Charles Darwin University AUSTRALIA
Deakin University AUSTRALIA
Department for Child Protection and Family Support AUSTRALIA
Department of Human Services AUSTRALIA
German Youth Institute DJI GERMANY
Government of Victoria AUSTRALIA
Lund University SWEDEN
Menzies School of Health Research AUSTRALIA
Northern Territory Department of Health AUSTRALIA
Parenting Research Centre AUSTRALIA
Parliament House, Canberra AUSTRALIA
Private Individual AUSTRALIA
Queen's University Belfast UNITED KINGDOM
Queensland University of Technology AUSTRALIA
Resolutions Consultancy AUSTRALIA
Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria AUSTRALIA
Salvation Army AUSTRALIA
The Benevolent Society AUSTRALIA
The Benevolent Society (NSW) AUSTRALIA
Trinity College Dublin IRELAND
University of Adelaide AUSTRALIA
University of Jyvaskyla FINLAND
University of Melbourne AUSTRALIA
University of New Hampshire UNITED STATES
University of New South Wales AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia AUSTRALIA
University of Sydney AUSTRALIA
Wesley Mission AUSTRALIA
Workforce Development Consulting CANADA
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External engagement & recognition

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External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition Year

Winner, Winnovation Award (Social Impact)

Women in Innovation SA

2018

Academic Excellence, End User Engagement Research

Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, University of South Australia

2017

Business Woman of the Year - Public Sector and Academia

Telstra SA

2017

Co-Director

Australian Centre for Child Protection

2017

Professorial Fellow

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

2017

Mid-Career Researcher

Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia

2014
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Teaching & student supervision

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Teaching & student supervision

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Courses and programs

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Teaching & student supervision

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Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title Student status
Child sexual abuse enabling knowledge, attitudes and planned behaviours Current
Patterns of involvement with child protection: maltreatment chronicity in South Australia Current
Supporting at-risk pregnant women and protecting unborn babies: so policy and practice align Current
Resilience in frontline child protection workers: a model of risk and protective factors Completed
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Gallery

Professor Leah Bromfield
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