Education Minister Jason Clare and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Lukas Coch/AAP Recent cases of prolific alleged child sexual abuse in Melbourne and other Australian early childhood education and care settings have shocked even experienced people who work to prevent child sexual abuse. Parents are right to be outraged,…

Professor Ben Mathews has been appointed by QUT as a Distinguished Professor in recognition of his research, impact and eminence within the field of child maltreatment and leadership contribution to QUT. This is the first appointment of a Distinguished Professor in the history of QUT’s Faculty of Law.…

The Australian has recently unveiled its list of the Top 250 Researchers for 2025, showcasing leaders across 250 diverse fields of study—those whose work has made a profound impact on their disciplines. Congratulations to Professor Ben Mathews, who has been recognised as the leading Australian researcher in the…

Child sexual abuse is common in Australia. The best evidence of this comes from the 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), which surveyed 8,500 Australians aged 16 and over. The ACMS found 28.5% of the national population has experienced sexual abuse before age 18 by any person (adult…

The findings of landmark research from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) have been publicly launched on the 4th April 2023. The launch coincided with the release of a special supplement about the Australian Child Maltreatment Study in the Medical Journal of Australia, and was attended by senior…

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), led by Professor Ben Mathews in collaboration with a team of international researchers, is undertaking a nationwide survey to identify the prevalence of child abuse and its health impacts. The $2.8 million study, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council,…

Professor Ben Mathews’s research on the law relating to child abuse and neglect has influenced legislative reform and policy development across Australia and internationally, including reforms to mandatory reporting laws and laws relating to civil claims for injury through child sexual abuse. Mandatory reporting of suspected abuse Each…