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Australian Study into the Economic Costs Of Child Sexual Exploitation Link to website story, and National Centre for Action on Child Abuse’s Register of Active Research
ICMEC Australia is launching a multi-phase research project in Australia to study the economic costs and impacts of CSE, particularly facilitated by online technology. CSE is a devastating crime that has significant financial and non-financial impacts on victims, their families, the community, and the economy.
Phase one of this Australian Study has been commissioned and aims to conceptualise the multi-faceted meaning of the costs of CSE. Dr Jonah Rimer, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Convenor of Postgraduate Cyber Criminology at the University of Queensland, has been selected to lead this first study.
Findings from this research will be publicly available and shared across the child protection sector, and the broader community. This will help improve discussions with the government and industries about the impact of CSE; the need for more comprehensive approaches, and the strengthening of the evidence base for organisations and professionals working to counter and prevent CSE.
ICMEC Australia has partnered with the University of Queensland's Bachelor of Social Science applied research project. Five final-year Bachelor of Social Science students will embark on a year-long research project formulated in partnership with ICMEC Australia and their course academic supervisors.
The focal point of their research will be: ‘Exploring the social, policy, and legislative implications of AI-generated child sexual abuse material’.
Perpetrators of CSE are adeptly employing technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). Given the constantly evolving nature of this crime, ICMEC Australia acknowledges the necessity of ongoing research to uncover data-driven insights and evidence-based solutions.
This research initiative will provide valuable insights to inform our work and the broader child protection response community.
The students involved in this project are driven by a passion to make a difference in this fast-paced and dynamic field. We are delighted to support the next generation of thought leaders and contributors to this critical area.
ICMEC Australia is proud to have served as the gold sponsor for the inaugural CSARRN Workshop held in Adelaide in 2023. This unique initiative reflects our mission to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and strengthen the evidence base around reducing and preventing child sexual abuse.
Established in 2023 by a group of dedicated researchers committed to combatting child sexual abuse, CSARRN’s inaugural workshop, hosted by the University of Adelaide, brought together key researchers and thought leaders from global institutions and Australia’s world-leading research teams. The event facilitated the sharing of work, the fostering of new collaborations, and the development of unified solutions to address child sexual abuse better.
ICMEC Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Elders past and present.
