Child maltreatment has significant impacts on Australia’s children and children globally. Early identification is key to supporting children and families towards favourable outcomes. Mandatory reporting therefore plays an important role in the identification and response to child maltreatment worldwide, with many countries implementing legislation mandating certain people (usually professionals) report suspected cases of child maltreatment. Registered nurses (RNs) are often among those mandated to report, occurring in all states and territories in Australia.

Three themes emerged from a review of the literature: firstly, RNs need opportunities to address their own attitudes and perceptions. Secondly, they need structured education rather than informal ‘training’. Lastly, education needs to begin during the preservice period to provide an adequate foundation for early career registered nurses (ECRNs). 

Study background

RNs are central to protection of children from maltreatment via mandatory reporting, but without appropriate preparation they cannot adequately undertake this task. Despite their advantageous contact throughout the lifespan, RNs are not reporting child maltreatment as often as other professions. In particular, ECRNs are underprepared for their role in recognising and responding to child maltreatment. There are some discussions and literature reviews in Australia that look at barriers to making reports, and some studies overseas that examine RNs’ knowledge and attitudes around child maltreatment and mandatory reporting, but as yet, there are no studies that examine how pre-service education for RNs is addressing attitudes and preconceptions about child maltreatment and mandatory reporting in Australia.

Sarah Stenson is a registered nurse who specialises in child and family health and currently works as a lecturer in nursing at Charles Sturt University. She is involved with the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group at Charles Sturt and is a member of the Maternal/Child and Family Health Nurses’ Association (MCaFHNA).

Her study will use an interpretive, qualitative approach, collecting data via semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and analysed using Braun & Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis through the lens of social constructionism.

Interviews

The study is currently recruiting participants, with recruitment closing in December 2025.

Both ECRNs with up to 2 years’ post-qualification experience and managers and clinical educators of ECRNs will be interviewed. Interviews will be conducted either face-to-face or via teleconferencing. Interviews are voluntary and are expected to take up to 60 minutes to complete. Participants will also be invited to email the lead researcher post-interview with any additional thoughts or ideas.

The interviews will explore how pre-service education for registered nurses in Australia is delivered and what opportunities are provided to address preconceptions around child maltreatment and mandatory reporting. Further, the interviews will explore:

• What opportunities pre-service education in Australia provide for ECRNs to address personal barriers to recognising and reporting child maltreatment?
• What are ECRNs’ perceptions of the effectiveness of preservice education around child maltreatment and mandatory reporting in preparing them to recognise and report?
  
  

ECRNs and managers/clinical educators will be purposively recruited to participate in this study.

ECRNs will be defined as RNs with up to 24 months’ post-qualification experience in nursing and with no other experience in mandatory reporting. Managers and clinical educators who have experience with mandatory reporting and with working with ECRNs will be specifically sought out. Participants will be divided into two groups, based on their experience: the first group being the ECRNs, the second comprising the managers and clinical educators.

Research findings will be disseminated in a final thesis for Sarah Stenson,  who is completing the study towards the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), as well as published in peer-reviewed journals and shared via conference presentations. Participants may request to be kept updated via email about the study’s progress and findings.

Outcomes

The study aims to add to the existing body of knowledge around nurses and mandatory reporting of child maltreatment by boosting the following:

• An understanding of pre-service education related to mandatory reporting and child maltreatment being provided to ECRNs;
• Insights into how ECRNs’ circumstances and societal influences impact how they view mandatory reporting and child maltreatment; and
• Insights into ECRNs’ perceptions around effectiveness of pre-service education on mandatory reporting and child maltreatment
  
  

“This will open avenues for further research which will lead to effective change in how pre-service education is delivered to RNs about child maltreatment and mandatory reporting, and thus lead to improvements in detection and reporting of child maltreatment by RNs to contribute to keeping children safe,” Sarah says.

For more information on the study or to take part contact Sarah Stenson on 02 6338 4376 or via email at sastenson@csu.edu.au

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is not responsible for the conduct or reporting of this externally led research project.