Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-16T12:44:06.253Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

School counsellors' knowledge of the nature of child sexual abuse and proceedures and laws

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Juliette D. G. Goldman  and
Usha K. Padayachi
Get access

Abstract

All school counsellors employed by the State Department of Education in Queensland, Australia, were sent a questionnaire asking about their understanding of child sexual abuse, and their familiarity with procedures and current laws. Results from the 122 respondents (52 males and 70 females), show that they have diverse knowledge of child sexual abuse. There was uncertainty among them as to whether their school had a formal procedure for reporting cases. Most school counsellors have a general knowledge of the laws in Queensland on reporting suspected cases of abuse, but only a minority of them know what the laws require them to do. When asked to describe the laws in Queensland, counsellors who indicated they knew about the law, then described four differing laws. In terms of knowledge of child sexual abuse, females made more accurate statements about sexual abuse than males. Training does contribute to improving counsellors' knowledge of child sexual abuse.

Type
Research papers
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , November 2000 , pp. 1 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrahams, N., Casey, K., & Daro, D. (1992). Teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about sexual abuse and its prevention. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 229–238.Google Scholar
American Humane Association (1981). National Study on child neglect and abuse reporting. Denver, CO: author.Google Scholar
American School Counselor Association (ASCA) (1981). ASCA position statement on child abuse and neglect. School Counselor, 28, 162–164.Google Scholar
Besharov, D. (1983). Liabilities issues in child welfare work. Washington, DC: American Bar Association.Google Scholar
Broadhurst, D. (1978). What schools are doing about child abuse and neglect. Children Today, Jan-Feb., 22–36.Google Scholar
Broadhurst, D. (1979). Educator's role in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Washington: National Centre on Child Abuse and Neglect.Google Scholar
Camblin, L.D. Jr. & Prout, H.T. (1983). School counselors and the reporting of child abuse: A survey of state laws and practices. The School Counselor, 30 (5), 358–367.Google Scholar
Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and neglect Information (1982). Who must report: Laws. Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Daro, D. (1991). Child sexual abuse prevention: Separating facts from fiction. Child Abuse and Neglect, 15, 1–4.Google Scholar
De Young, M. (1988). The good and the bad touch dilemma. Child Welfare, 67 (1), 60–68.Google Scholar
Elliot, M. (1985). Learning to kiss and tell. The Times Educational Supplement, 3600, 18–19.Google Scholar
Finklehor, D (1994) The International Epidemology of Child Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse and Neglect, 18, (5), pp409–417Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1979). Sexually victimized children. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Finlayson, L.M. (1990). Professional judgements related to child abuse reporting laws in child sexual abuse cases. Doctoral dissertation. Michigan State University.Google Scholar
Furniss, T. (1991). The multi-professional handbook of child sexual abuse: The integrated management, therapy, and legal intervention. London: Routlege.Google Scholar
Giarretto, H. (1976). The treatment of father-daughter incest: A psycho-social approach. Child Today, 29(4), 34–35.Google Scholar
Goldman, J. D. G. (1995). All of me. Sex education for juniors, Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.Google Scholar
Goldman, R. J. & Goldman, J. D. G. (1982). Children's sexual thinking. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.Google Scholar
Goldman, R. J. & Goldman, J. D. G. (1988a). The prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse in Australia. Australian Journal of Sex, Marriage and Family, 9, 94–106.Google Scholar
Goldman, R. J. & Goldman, J. D. G. (1988b). Show me yours: Understanding children's sexuality. Victoria: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Goldman, J. D. G. & La Castra, L. D. (1998) The educational experiences of homeless teenage girls on Australia's Gold Coast, Youth Studies Australia, Vol 17, No. 3, pp20–25.Google Scholar
Goldman, J. D. G., and Padayachi, U. K. (1997), The nature and Incidence of child sexual abuse in Queensland, Australia, Child Abuse and Neglect, 21, (5), 489–498.Google Scholar
Goldman, J. D. G., and Padayachi, U. K. (2000a), The perpetrators of child sexual abuse in Queensland, Australia, Child Australia, 25, 2Google Scholar
Goldman, J. D. G., and Padayachi, U. K. (2000b, submitted), Trauma associated with child sexual abuse in Queensland, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Griggs, S.A. & Gale, P. (1977). The abused child: Focus for the counselor. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 11, 187–194.Google Scholar
Hazzard, A. (1984). Training teachers to identify and intervene with abused children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 13, 288–293.Google Scholar
Hazzard, A. & Rupp, G. (1986). A note on the knowledge and attitudes of professional groups toward child sexual abuse. Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 219–223.Google Scholar
Herzberger, S. (1985). Identifying cases of child sexual abuse: A social psychological phenomenon. Victimology: An International Journal, 1 (4), 87–96.Google Scholar
Hyde, M., Goldman, J. D. G. & Sinclair, M. (2000, submitted). Homeless and disadvantaged youth on the Gold Coast; A case study of a human services organistion.Google Scholar
James, J., Womack, W. & Stauss, F. (1978). Physicians reporting of sexual abuse of children. Journal of American Medical Association, 240, 1145–1146.Google Scholar
Krupnick, M.I. (1981). A survey of school psychologists' awareness of and attitudes toward incest. Doctoral dissertation. Rutgers University.Google Scholar
Lamond, D.A.P. (1989). The impact of mandatory reporting legislation on reporting behaviour. Child Abuse and Neglect, 13, 471–480.Google Scholar
Martin, D.L. (1973). The growing horror of child abuse and the undeniable role of the schools in putting an end to it. The American School Board Journal, 160 (11), 51–55.Google Scholar
McCafferey, M. & Tewey, S. (1978). Preparing educators to participate in the community response to child abuse and neglect. Exceptional Children, 45, 114–122.Google Scholar
McFadden, E.J. (1989). Counseling abused children. ERIC Counseling and Personal Services Clearing House. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259.Google Scholar
Muehleman, T. & Kimmons, C. (1981). Psychologists' views on child abuse reporting, confidentiality, life and the law: An exploratory study. Professional Psychology, 12, 631–638.Google Scholar
N.S.W. Child Protection Council (Sept. 1987). New South Wales Child Protection Council Newsletter, 3.Google Scholar
Oates, R.K. (1990). Understanding the problem. In Oates, R.K. (Ed.), Understanding and managing child sexual abuse. Sydney: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers.Google Scholar
Padayachi, U. K. (1994). The nature and prevalence of child sexual abuse in Queensland and school counsellors' responses, PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar
Parker, H. & Parker, S. (1986). Father-daughter sexual abuse: An emerging perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 54 (4), 531–549.Google Scholar
Queensland Department of Education, (1989) Information Statement No. 128, Education Office Gazette, 26 May.Google Scholar
Queensland Department of Education, (1998) Department of Edcuation Manual, Health and Safety HS-17, Child Protection, March.Google Scholar
Rencken, R.H. (1989). Intervention strategies for sexual abuse. American Association for Counseling and Development. VA: Alexandria.Google Scholar
Riggs, R.S. (1982). Incest: The school's role. Journal of School Health, 52, 365–370.Google Scholar
Riggs, R. & Evans, D. (1978). The pre-professional elementary educators' knowledge and opinions regarding child abuse. College Student Journal, 12, 290–293.Google Scholar
Slager-Jorne, P. (1978). Counseling sexually abused children. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 57, 103–105.Google Scholar
Swoboda, J.S., Elwork, A.Sales, B.D. & Levine, D. (1978). Knowledge of and compliance with privileged communication child abuse reporting laws. Professional Psychology, 9, 448–457.Google Scholar
Tong, L.Oates, K. & McDowell, M. (1987). Personality development following sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 11, 371–383.Google Scholar
Vevier, E. & Tharinger, D.J. (1986). Child sexual abuse: A review and intervention framework for the school psychologist. Journal of School Psychology, 24, 293–311.Google Scholar
Walker, C.E., Bonner, B.L. & Kaufman, K.L. (1988). The physically and sexually abused child: Evaluation and treatment. New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Westcott, N.A. (1980). Sexually abused children: A special clientele for school counsellors. The School Counselor, 27, 199–203.Google Scholar
Wilder, P. (1991). A counselor's contribution to the child abuse referral network. The School Counselor, 38, 203–213.Google Scholar
Wilson, J., Thomas, D. & Schuette, L. (1983). Survey of school counsellors on identifying and reporting cases of child abuse. The School Counselor, 30, 299–305.Google Scholar