Leah Bromfield-Smith

Prof Leah Bromfield-Smith

Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection and Chair of Child Protection

Australian Centre of Child Protection

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Professor Leah Bromfield is the Chair of Child Protection and Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, Adelaie University. She is the 2025 SA Australian of the Year, Chair of the SA Child Protection Expert Group, Chair of the Tas Uplifting Care Independent Expert Group, and Co-Chair of the National Advisory Group for the National Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse. 
Professor Bromfield is one of Australia’s foremost child protection experts, who has worked nationally and internationally with government and non-government organisations in establishing and implementing child protection reforms.
Prof Bromfield’s prominent work leading and supporting government reform and significant contributions to Inquiries and Royal Commissions has directly changed laws, policies and practices in the field of child protection. Her roles and appointments include as a current Commissioner in the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings, and Professorial Fellow to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, established by the Australian government, leading its extensive research program.
Prof Bromfield’s expertise has been extensively recognised, including as Chair or of the inaugural South Australian Child Protection Expert Group and member of the Council of Australian Government’s National Framework for Protection Australia’s Children Governance group since 2010, and through awards including the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year (Public Sector and Academia, 2017), and the 2018 Women in Innovation Social Impact Award.
Prof Bromfield has been an author on more than 250 commissioned reports, policy and practice papers in the field, and she has been awarded in excess of $20 million research income over the course of her career.

Child protection, including intake and assessment, national and international comparisons, and multiply referred families

Child abuse and neglect, including prevalence and incidence, chronic maltreatment and cumulative harm, and maltreatment definitions

Multiple and complex problems and child abuse and neglect

Research dissemination,knowledge translation and exchange, implementation science

Public health approaches and child protection systems design

Year Citation
2025 Cox, S., Parkinson, S., Herbert, J., Tucker, E., Octoman, O., & Bromfield, L. (2025). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and young people who have experienced forms of child maltreatment other than child sexual abuse: a review of the evidence. Children and Youth Services Review, 170, 1-19.
DOI Scopus3
2025 Lukmanjaya, W., Butler, T., Cox, S., Perez Concha, O., Bromfield, L., & Karystianis, G. (2025). Leveraging AI to investigate child maltreatment text narratives: promising benefits and addressable risks. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 8(73579), 1-9.
DOI
2024 Thain, E., Cox, S., Paton, A., Shihata, S., & Bromfield, L. (2024). Complex trauma from child abuse and neglect 'I'm not sure we're even all talking about the same thing and we're probably not':. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 17(4), 1151-1168.
DOI
2024 Paton, A. J., Parsons, V., Adamson, K., Pitts, C., Bromfield, L., & Horch, G. (2024). Developing minimum practice standards for specialist and community support services responding to child sexual abuse. Children Australia, 42(6, article no. 3027), 1-12.
DOI
2024 Cox, S., Bromfield, L., Chong, A., & Arney, F. (2024). Opportunities to strengthen child abuse prevention service systems: a jurisdictional assessment of child welfare interventions. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 15(1), 1-26.
DOI
2022 Moore, T., Bourke Taylor, H. M., Greenland, N., McDougall, S., Robinson, L., Brown, T., & Bromfield, L. (2022). Young carers and educational engagement: quantitative analysis of bursary applications in Australia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30(5), e1625-e1638.
DOI Scopus5 WoS6 Europe PMC2
2021 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. M. (2021). A quasi-experimental study of the Multi-Agency Investigation & Support Team (MIST): a collaborative response to child sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 111(104827), 1-15.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC4
2020 Flaherty, R., & Bromfield, L. (2020). Pregnant women involved with statutory child protection services: the impact of difficult-to-reach on recruiting a non-biased sample. Social Work & Social Sciences Review, 22(1), 42-63.
DOI Scopus4
2020 Mathews, B., Bromfield, L., & Walsh, K. (2020). Comparing reports of child sexual and physical abuse using child welfare agency data in two jurisdictions with different mandatory reporting laws. Social Sciences, 9(5, article no. 75), 1-22.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5
2020 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. (2020). Worker perceptions of the multi-agency investigation & support team (MIST): a process evaluation of a cross-agency response to severe child abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 29(6), 638-658.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC2
2019 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. (2019). Better together? A review of evidence for multi-disciplinary teams responding to physical and sexual child abuse. Trauma, violence, & abuse, 20(2), 214-228.
DOI Scopus51 WoS45 Europe PMC18
2019 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. M. (2019). Multi-disciplinary teams responding to child abuse: common features and assumptions. Children & youth services review, 106(104467), 1-11.
DOI Scopus23 WoS17
2018 Cox, R., Skouteris, H., Fuller Tyszkiewicz, M., McCabe, M., Watson, B., Fredrickson, J., . . . Hardy, L. L. (2018). A qualitative exploration of coordinators' and carers' perceptions of the healthy eating, active living (HEAL) programme in residential care. Child abuse review, 27(2), 122-136.
DOI Scopus18 WoS14
2018 Herbert, J. L., Walsh, W., & Bromfield, L. (2018). A national survey of characteristics of child advocacy centers in the United States: do the flagship models match those in broader practice?. Child abuse & neglect, 76, 583-595.
DOI Scopus26 WoS21 Europe PMC10
2017 Mathews, B., Bromfield, L. M., Walsh, K., Cheng, Q., & Norman, R. E. (2017). Reports of child sexual abuse of boys and girls: longitudinal trends over a 20-year period in Victoria, Australia. Child Abuse and Neglect, 66, 9-22.
DOI Scopus40 WoS35 Europe PMC21
2017 Cox, R., Skouteris, H., Fuller Tyszkiewicz, M., Watson, B., Jones, A. D., Omerogullari, S., . . . Hardy, L. (2017). The healthy eating, active living (HEAL) study: outcomes, lessons learnt and future recommendations. Child abuse review, 26(3), 196-214.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11
2016 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. (2016). Evidence for the efficacy of the Child Advocacy Center model: A systematic review. Trauma, violence and abuse: a review journal, 17(3), 341-357.
DOI Scopus65 WoS53 Europe PMC25
2015 Salveron, M., Bromfield, L., Kirika, C., Simmons, J., Murphy, T., & Turnell, A. (2015). Changing the way we do child protection': The implementation of Signs of Safety® within the Western Australia Department for Child Protection and Family Support. Children and Youth Services Review, 48, 126-139.
DOI Scopus30 WoS28
2015 Spratt, T., Nett, J., Bromfield, L. M., Hietamäki, J., Kindler, H., & Ponnert, L. (2015). Child protection in Europe: development of an international cross-comparison model to inform national policies and practices. British journal of social work, 2014(5), 1-18.
DOI Scopus37 WoS28
2013 Salveron, M., Finan, S., & Bromfield, L. (2013). 'Why wait?': Engaging with children and young people in child protection research to inform practice. Developing Practice, 37(1), 24-34.
2013 Parkinson, S., & Bromfield, L. (2013). Recruiting young adults to child maltreatment research through Facebook: A feasibility study. Child abuse and neglect, 37(9), 716-720.
DOI Scopus14 WoS11 Europe PMC11
2012 Guthridge, S., Ryan, P., Condon, J., Bromfield, L., Moss, J., & Lynch, J. (2012). Trends in reports of child malreatment in the Northern Territory, 1999-2010. Medical Journal of Australia, 197(11/12), 637-641.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC5
2011 Shlonsky, A., Ballan, M., & Bromfield, L. (2011). Practitioner's response: evidence-informed practice in child welfare: definitions, challenges and strategies. Developing practice : the child, youth and family work journal, (29), 43-44.
2011 Price Robertson, R., & Bromfield, L. (2011). Risk assessment in child protection. NCPC Resource sheet, 1-6.
2011 Bromfield, L. (2011). Minimising cumulative harm for vulnerable children: does the green paper reflect international best practice?. SSPA News, 1.
2010 Bromfield, L., & Horsfall, B. (2010). Child abuse and neglect statistics. NCPC Resource Sheet, 1.
2010 Bromfield, L. (2010). Violence, abuse and neglect. Family Matters, 85(1), 5-6.
Scopus1
2010 Price-Robertson, R., Smart, D., & Bromfield, L. (2010). Family is for life: Connections between childhood family experiences and wellbeing in early adulthood. Family Matters, 85(1), 7-17.
Scopus23
2010 Humphreys, C., Holzer, P., Scott, D. A., Arney, F., Bromfield, L., Higgins, D., & Lewig, K. (2010). The planets aligned: is child protection policy reform good luck or good management?. Australian social work, 63(2), 145-163.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7
2010 Price Robertson, R., Bromfield, L. M., & Vassallo, S. (2010). Prevalence matters: estimating the extent of child maltreatment in Australia. Developing practice : the child, youth and family work journal, 26, 12-20.
2010 Edwards, B., & Bromfield, L. M. (2010). Neighbourhood influences on young children's emotional and behavioral problems. Family matters, 84(84), 7-19.
Scopus21 WoS20
2010 Horsfall, B., Bromfield, L. M., & McDonald, M. (2010). Are social marketing campaigns effective in preventing child abuse and neglect?. National Child Protection Clearinghouse issues, 32, 1-28.
2010 Lewig, K., Scott, D., Holzer, P., Arney, F., Humphreys, C., & Bromfield, L. (2010). The role of research in child protection policy reform: a case study of South Australia. Evidence and policy, 6(4), 461-482.
DOI Scopus5 WoS2
2010 Bromfield, L., Lamont, A., Parker, R., & Horsfall, B. (2010). Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children in families with multiple and complex problems. National Child Protection Clearinghouse issues, 33, 1-24.
2010 Bromfield, L. M. (2010). Violence, abuse and neglect. Family matters, 85(85), 5-6.
WoS1
2010 Price Robertson, R., Smart, D., & Bromfield, L. (2010). Family is for life: connections between childhood family experiences and wellbeing in early adulthood. Family matters, 85(85), 7-17.
WoS21
2009 Lamont, A., & Bromfield, L. (2009). Parental intellectual disability and child protection: key issues. National Child Protection Clearinghouse issues, (31), 1-20.
2009 Arney, F. M., Bromfield, L., Lewig, K. A., & Holzer, P. (2009). Integrating strategies for delivering evidence-informed practice. Evidence and policy, 5(2), 179-191.
DOI Scopus13
2009 Edwards, B., & Bromfield, L. M. (2009). Neighborhood influences on young children's conduct problems and pro-social behaviour: Evidence from an Australian national sample. Children and youth services review, 31(3), 317-324.
DOI Scopus67 WoS67
2008 Bromfield, L., & Osborn, A. (2008). Australian Research Investigating Residential and Specialised Models of Care: A Systematic Review. Developing practice : the child, youth and family work journal, (20), 23-32.
2008 Bromfield, L., & Arney, F. M. (2008). Developing a road map for research : identifying the priorities for a national child protection research agenda. Issues in child abuse prevention, 28, 1-14.
2008 Gillingham, P., & Bromfield, L. (2008). Child protection, risk assessment and blame ideology. Children Australia, 33(1), 18-24.
DOI Scopus28 WoS23
2007 Bromfield, L. M., Gillingham, P., & Higgins, D. (2007). Cumulative harm and chronic child maltreatment.. Developing Practice.
2007 Bromfield, L. M., & Ryan, R. (2007). A national comparison of statutory child protection training in Australia. Communities, Children & Families Australia.
2007 Bromfield, L. M., & Osborn, A. (2007). 'Getting the big picture': A synopsis and critique of Australian out-of-home care research. Child abuse prevention issues.
2006 Holzer, P., Higgins, J. R., Bromfield, L. M., Richardson, N., & Higgins, D. (2006). The effectiveness of parent education and home visiting child maltreatment prevention programs. Child Abuse Prevention.
2006 Irenyi, M., Bromfield, L. M., Beyer, L., & Higgins, D. (2006). Child maltreatment in organisations: risk factors and strategies for prevention. Child abuse prevention issues.
2006 Higgins, D., Bromfield, L. M., Higgins, J. R., & Richardson, N. (2006). Protecting Indigenous children: views of carers and young people on "out-of-home care". Family matters, (75), 42-49.
WoS6
2006 Cashmore, J., Higgins, D., Bromfield, L. M., & Scott, D. A. (2006). Recent Australian child protection and out-of-home care research. What's been done-and what needs to be done. Children Australia, 31(2), 4-11.
DOI WoS16
2005 Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. (2005). National comparison of child protection systems. Child abuse prevention issues.
2005 Fish, E., Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. (2005). A new name for Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: defining fabricated or induced illness by carers. Child abuse prevention issues.
2005 Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. (2005). Chronic and isolated maltreatment in a child protection sample. Family matters.
2005 Richardson, N., Higgins, D., Bromfield, L. M., Tooley, G., & Stokes, M. (2005). The relationship between childhood injuries and family type. Family matters, (72), 44-49.
WoS3
2005 Bromfield, L., & Higgins, D. (2005). Chronic and isolated maltreatment in a child protection sample Many children who are maltreated experience multiple incidents of maltreatment over a prolonged period of time. FAMILY MATTERS, (70), 38-45.
WoS15
2004 Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. (2004). The limitations of using statutory child protection data for research into child maltreatment. Australian Social Work, 57(1), 19-30.
DOI Scopus26
2003 Morison, J. E., Bromfield, L. M., & Cameron, H. J. (2003). A Therapeutic Model for Supporting Families of Children with a Chronic Illness or Disability.. Child and adolescent mental health, 8(3), 125-130.
DOI Europe PMC5
2001 Bromfield, L. M., Clarke, V. A., & Lynch, N. (2001). Comparing alternate teaching styles to teach computing skills to girls in their English classes. COMPUTERS & EDUCATION, 36(4), 285-297.
DOI WoS2

Year Citation
2020 Herbert, J. L., Bromfield, L., Arney, F., & Blakemore, T. (2020). Impacts of institutional child sexual abuse: what we have learned from research and the Royal Commission into institutional response to child sexual abuse private sessions. In I. Bryce, & W. Petherick (Eds.), Source details - Title: Child Sexual Abuse: Forensic Issues in Evidence, Impact, and Management (pp. 221-240). UK: Academic Press.
DOI Scopus3
2015 Arney, F., Bromfield, L., & McDougall, S. (2015). Research in child protection: an Australian perspective. In L. Waterhouse, & J. McGhee (Eds.), Source details - Title: Challenging child protection: New directions in safeguarding children (pp. 100-109). UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
2015 Bromfield, L. (2015). The role of mandatory reporting in preventative child welfare reforms: an uneasy fit?. In B. Mathews, & D. Bross (Eds.), Source details - Title: Mandatory reporting laws and the identification of severe child abuse and neglect (Vol. 4, pp. 467-490). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
DOI Scopus1
2014 Bromfield, L., Arney, F., & Higgins, D. (2014). Contemporary issues in child protection intake, referral and family support. In A. Hayes, & D. Higgins (Eds.), Source details - Title: Families, policy and the law: selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 121-129). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
2013 Arney, F. M., Lewig, K. A., Mildon, R., SHOLNSKY, A., Gibson, C. J., & Bromfield, L. M. (2013). Spreading and implementing promising approaches in child and family services. In D. Scott, & F. Arney (Eds.), Source details - Title: Working with vulnerable families : a partnership approach (2 ed., pp. 235-291). US: Cambridge University Press.
2012 Arney, F. M., Bromfield, L. M., Lewig, K. A., Michaux, A., Antcliff, G., & Mildon, R. (2012). Facilitating evidence-informed practice: participatory knowledge translation and exchange. In K. Dill, & W. Shera (Eds.), Source details - Title: Implementing evidence-informed practice: international perspectives (pp. 173-189). Toronto, Canada: Canadian Scholars' Press.
2010 Arney, F., Lewig, K., Bromfield, L., & Holzer, P. (2010). Using evidence-informed practice to support vulnerable families. In F. Arney, & D. Scott (Eds.), Source details - Title: Working with vulnerable families (pp. 247-274). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
DOI

Year Citation
2010 Lamont, A., & Bromfield, L. M. (2010). History of Child Protection Services. In No Code (pp. 1-7). Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
2010 Bromfield, L. M. (2010). Families with multiple and complex problems: issues for the safety and wellbeing of children. In Building a child friendly Australia: responding to vulnerable families (pp. 39). NSW, Australia: Association of Children's Welfare Agencies.
2006 Bromfield, L. M., Richardson, N., & Higgins, D. (2006). Kinship care: A culturally appropriate practice framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Wellingtoin, New Zealand: ACCAN.
2006 Higgins, D., Richardson, N., & Bromfield, L. M. (2006). Australian Indigenous communities and out-of-home care: Models of best practice. In Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Wellingtoin, New Zealand: ACCAN.
2005 Richardson, N., & Bromfield, L. M. (2005). Making the `Right¿ Choices about Child Protection Programs and Services. In Healthy Solutions for Children: Making the Right Choice: 10th National Conference of the Association for the Welfare of Child Health. Australia: Australian Association for the Welfare of Child Health.
2005 Higgins, D., & Bromfield, L. M. (2005). Understanding what child protection data mean: A national comparison. In Proceedings of the Safety, crime and justice: From data to policy - Australian Institute of Criminology/Australian Bureau of Statistics Conference. Australia: Australian Institute of Criminology.

Year Citation
2025 Thain, E., Perfect, D., Collins, A., Borges Jelinic, A., Bromfield Smith, L., & O'Leary, P. (2025). Australian approaches to the disclosure of child sexual abuse: reviewing the grey literature. South Australia: University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
DOI
2025 Bromfield Smith, L., Perfect, D., Krakouer, J., & ODonnell, M. (2025). Children and young people (safety and support) Bill 2024: Australian Centre for Child Protection Submission. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2024 Paton, A., & Bromfield, L. (2024). Practice guide | Understanding harmful sexual behaviours: a layered continuum. Australia: University of South Australia " Australian Centre for Child Protection.
DOI
2024 Paton, A., Burgess, S., Perfect, D., Thain, E., Winslade, K., & Bromfield, L. (2024). Evidence based review of therapeutic residential care models. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2024 Ey, L. A., Herbert, J., & Bromfield Smith, L. (2024). Development of a multi-agency framework for responding to harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people in South Australia. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2024 Horch, G., Paton, A., Burgess, S., Cox, S., & Bromfield Smith, L. (2024). Harmful sexual behaviour assessment tools for use in Australian out-of-home care contexts: a scoping review. Australia: The Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia.
DOI
2023 Paton, A., Parsons, V., Pitts, C., Adamson, K., Bromfield, L., Horch, G., . . . Burgess, S. (2023). Minimum practice standards: specialist and community support services responding to child sexual abuse. Australia: National Office for Child Safety.
2022 Cox, S., Thain, E., & Bromfield, L. (2022). Integrative treatment of complex trauma for children and adolescents: a rapid evidence assessment. Australia: Australian Centre for Child Protection.
DOI
2022 Paton, A., & Bromfield, L. (2022). Continuum for understanding harmful sexualised behaviours. Australia: University of South Australia, Australian Centre for Child Protection.
2022 Herbert, J., Octoman, O., & Bromfield, L. (2022). Review of data and outcomes for the Permanency Support Program (PSP): data roadmap. Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2022 Paton, A., Bromfield, L., Moore, T., Ey, L. A., Burgess, S., Cox, S., & Herbert, J. (2022). Framework for understanding and guiding responses to harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people. Australia: Department of Communities.
2022 Herbert, J., Paton, A., Bromfield, L., & O'Donnell, M. (2022). Parkerville therapeutic treatment model client outcome review. Australia: Pursuit of Excellence In Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect In Western Australia.
2021 Paton, A., Cox, S., McDougall, S., Bromfield, L., Bevan, K., Gadsdon, M., & Scott, J. (2021). WA Child protection pathway project final report. University of South Australia: Australian Centre for Child Protection.
2019 Cox, S., Ey, L. A., Parkinson, S., & Bromfield, L. (2019). Evidence check: Service models for children under 10 with problematic sexual behaviours. Australia: SAX Institute.
2019 Moore, T., Bourke Taylor, H., Greenland, N., McDougall, S., Bromfield, L., Robinson, L., & Brown, T. (2019). No space in my brain to learn: young carers and their engagement with education. An analysis of application to the Carers Australia Bursary Program 2017-2018. Australia: University of South Australia.
2018 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. (2018). National comparison of cross-agency practice in investigating and responding to severe child abuse. Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
2017 Meiksans, J., Bromfield, L., & Ey, L. A. (2017). A continuum of responses for harmful sexual behaviours: an issues paper for Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia. Australia: Australian Centre for Child Protection (UniSA).
DOI
2017 Anderson, P., Bamblett, M., Bassarab, D., Broomfield, L., Chan, S., Maddock, G., . . . Wright, M. (2017). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. Australia: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
2017 Herbert, J., & Bromfield, L. (2017). Multiagency Investigation & Support Team (MIST) pilot: evaluation report. South Australia: University of South Australia.
DOI
2017 Herbert, J., & Bromfield, L. (2017). Components of effective cross-agency responses to abuse - a report for the NSW Ombudsman's Office. New South Wales: NSW Ombudsman's Office.
DOI
2017 Herbert, J., & Bromfield, L. (2017). National comparison of cross-agency practice in investigating and responding to severe child abuse - A report for the NSW Ombudsman's Office. New South Wales: NSW Ombudsman's Office.
DOI
2017 Bromfield, L., Hirte, C., Octoman, O., & Katz, I. (2017). Child sexual abuse in Australian institutional contexts 2008-13: Findings from administrative data. Australia: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
2017 Parkinson, S., Bromfield, L., McDougall, S., & Salveron, M. (2017). Child neglect: Key concepts and risk factors. Australia: Australian Centre for Child Protection.
2016 Herbert, J. L., & Bromfield, L. (2016). Evaluation of the multi-agency investigation & support team pilot: interim report. Australia: Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia.
2012 Jordan, B., Sketchley, R., Bromfield, L. M., & Miller, R. (2012). Infants and their families - Best interests case practice model, specialist practice resource. Australia: Victorian Government Department of Human Services.
2012 Bromfield, L. (2012). Child protection in Australia: Source details - Title: Child protection systems: an international comparison of "good practice examples" of five countries (Australia, Germany, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom) with recommendations for Sweden. Switzerland: The Swiss Project Fund for Child Protection.
2012 Mathews, B., & Bromfield, L. (2012). Australian laws and policies on child neglect: Source details - Title: World perspectives on child abuse. Colorado, USA: International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
2012 Spratt, T., Bromfield, L., Nett, J., Hietamaki, J., Kindler, H., & Ponnert, L. (2012). Cross national analyses of good practices and derived recommendations: Source details - Title: Child protection systems: an international comparison of 'good practice examples' of five countries (Australia, Germany, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom) with recommendations for Sweden. Switzerland: The Swiss Project Fund for Child Protection.
2011 Jordan, B., Sketchley, R., Bromfield, L. M., Antcliff, G., & Lamont, A. (2011). Practice guide 2: infants at risk of abuse and neglect. Australia: Benevolent Society.
2011 Arney, F., & Bromfield, L. (2011). An integrated framework for child safety and wellbeing in the Northern Territory. Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
2010 Miller, R., & Bromfield, L. (2010). Cumulative harm: best interests case practice model specialist practice resource. Australia: Victorian Government.

Year Citation
2025 Lukmanjaya, W., Butler, T., Cox, S., Perez-Concha, O., Bromfield, L., & Karystianis, G. (2025). Leveraging AI to Investigate Child Maltreatment Text Narratives: Promising Benefits and Addressable Risks (Preprint).
DOI

  • Developing Standards to Address Secondary Institutional Betrayal, UniSA-Donation via Foundation, 26/01/2026 - 08/12/2028

  • Impact of the Barnahus model in Europe, Oak Foundation, 31/03/2025 - 31/03/2028

  • Violence Perpetration: Profiling, Prediction and Prevention, NHMRC - Centre of Research Excellence, 01/11/2022 - 31/10/2027

  • Enhancing responses to harmful sexual behaviours among teachers and parents: Co-developing training materials and resources, Daniel Morcombe Foundation, 01/04/2024 - 01/03/2027

  • WA Child Sexual Abuse Sector Capacity Building, WA Dept of Communities, 02/02/2025 - 02/02/2027

  • Development of a Child Safety Training Package, QLD Dept of Education, 27/10/2025 - 26/10/2026

  • Co-design implementation support and evaluation for the Specialist Harmful Sexual Behaviours Pilot Program, WA Dept of Communities, 08/01/2024 - 07/07/2026

  • ARL Renewal Program, Department for Education, Children and Young People, 08/08/2025 - 30/01/2026

  • Can administrative records inform estimates of the extent and nature of harmful sexual behaviours?, Daniel Morcombe Foundation, 09/06/2023 - 20/12/2025

  • Understanding the experiences of child sexual abuse disclosure in Australia in the wake of the Royal Commission, National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse - Competitive Grant, 23/11/2023 - 30/11/2025

  • Child Safety Training Development, QLD Dept of Education, 01/09/2025 - 24/10/2025

  • Child safety training initial scoping advice, QLD Dept of Education, 12/05/2025 - 31/07/2025

  • Enhancing responses to Children with Harmful Sexual Behaviours and Advocacy, Support and Therapeutic Treatment for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in the Western Australian Service Context, WA Dept of Communities, 28/06/2021 - 30/06/2025

  • SA Dept of Human Services Scholarship, SA Dept of Human Services, 01/07/2019 - 31/12/2023

  • Prototyping of the evidence-informed co-designed therapeutic approach for Noongar children with abuse and neglect related trauma with Aboriginal healing practitioners , Breakthrough Mental Health Foundation/UniSA ¿ Seed Funding, 01/02/2022 - 30/06/2023

  • Parkerville – Responding Effectively to Child Sexual Abuse Research Program, Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc., 01/03/2018 - 07/05/2023

  • SCHEDULE 5 OFFICIAL ORDER 90013947 - IMS Part A, Cwth Dept of Social Services, 16/12/2021 - 28/02/2023

  • Cumulative Harm: The Outcomes, Risk and protective Factors Associated with Chronic Maltreatment, SA Dept for Education and Children's Services, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2019

  • EIRD Perpetrator Desktop Evaluation and Information, SA Dept of Premier & Cabinet, 28/03/2018 - 30/06/2018

  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Child Advocacy Centres, Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc., 03/01/2014 - 31/05/2018

  • Harmful Sexual Behaviours Consultancy and Research Services, Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia, 03/10/2017 - 15/12/2017

  • Research support for the NSW Ombudsmans Review of the Joint Investigation Response Team, New South Wales Ombudsman, 07/10/2016 - 31/01/2017

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor First Contact: How child protection systems contribute to ongoing First Nations overrepresentation in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Janneen Ada Wanganeen
2024 Co-Supervisor Evidence based interventions delivered in schools for students who display HSB and students who experience HSB Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Timothy Wong
2023 Principal Supervisor Measuring the well-being of 0 to 3-year-olds in Out of Home Care Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Tracey Corcoran
2022 Co-Supervisor Laws that colonise: Aboriginal children, child protection and the Australian legal system  Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Amy Cleland
2022 Principal Supervisor Understanding regulation needs to facilitate therapeutic management of externalising behaviours in residential care Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Miranda Willet
2021 Co-Supervisor Australian police responses to children engaging in harmful sexual behaviours Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Rachel Mary Lever
  • Position: Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection and Chair of Child Protection
  • Email: leah.bromfield@adelaide.edu.au
  • Alternative Contact: Please contact ACCP's administrative team:childprotection@unisa.edu.au

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