{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260101155"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260101155","attributes":{"code":"DE260101155","administering-organisation":"Victoria University","announcement-administering-organisation":"Victoria University","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Leveraging collaborative governance to transform safeguarding in sport . This is the first comprehensive, multidimensional study to explore child safeguarding in community sport. Building on theories of collaborative and network governance, this project expects to generate significant, new and innovative knowledge to support a more collective approach to policy implementation, and to transform how community sport child safeguarding is practiced in Australia. Findings will contribute to the prevention of child abuse in the sport sector. Additional benefits include reducing the economic burden of child abuse, improving retention of children in sport, and enhancing the capacity of the sport volunteer sector.","funding-current":474828.00,"funding-at-announcement":471413,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Mary","familyName":"Woessner","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0001-7001-8407 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Mary","familyName":"Woessner","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0001-7001-8407 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"Victoria University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"Victoria University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"VIC"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3504","name":"Commercial Services","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"350405","name":"Sport and Leisure Management","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"420799","name":"Sports Science and Exercise Not Elsewhere Classified","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"130602","name":"Organised Sports","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["England"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"Community sport is integral to Australian communities, with over four million children participating weekly, supported by three million volunteers. While youth sport offers many health and social benefits, these are only realised if the environment is free from harm. Alarmingly, the research demonstrates that over 80% of children in community sport have experienced some form of abuse in sport.\n\nDespite prevention of child abuse being a key priority of the Australian government, as outlined in The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, implementation is hindered by complex governance structures and a reliance on a volunteer workforce. Mixed messages from multiple governance stakeholders and the lack of consistent training, guidance and support, leave many safeguarding volunteers alone and isolated, yet also solely responsible for ensuring the safety of all youth participants.\n\nThis project will examine child safeguarding policies, people, and practices in sport. By identifying system strengths and weaknesses and amplifying safeguarding volunteer experiences, the project will provide evidence-based recommendations to improve governance and create safer sporting environments, ensuring child safeguarding is a lived reality, not just a policy requirement. Ultimately, the project will position Australia as a world-leader in community sport safeguarding.\n"}}}