The SVRPU team received seed funding to partner with the UTAS researchers to conduct research into digital interventions in response to child sexual abuse perpetration. The team conducted a scoping review to explore the current scope of digital interventions being implemented as secondary prevention measures to prevent, or intervene early, in the perpetration of online child sexual abuse.

After screening more than 1,100 materials, just 6 sources focused on the implementation of digital interventions to prevent the perpetration of online sexual offending. These sources were largely focused on the secondary prevention of child sexual abuse material offences, targeting individuals at-risk of perpetration, with the exception of one source, which examined the development of a primary prevention intervention, targeting potential perpetrators within the broader general public through a digital advertisement campaign. The sources provide several indications for the development of effective digital interventions; however, the limited number of sources highlights this as a critical space for further research. Several examples of digital interventions that have not yet been explored empirically were also noted.

Impact

The LAUNCH program resulted in a successful partnership between UniSC and UTAS, with the scoping review published in October 2024 (see our publications page). The scoping review highlighted a vital area for future research, to better understand and improve the efficacy of prevention efforts to forestall the perpetration of online child sexual abuse. The research team will continue to work together, and build on this research, to address some of the identified research and practice gaps, through future funding.