Volunteers need training and support to deal with disclosures of child abuse in community sport

A new study by Victoria University (VU) reveals volunteers involved in community sport need more support when recognizing and responding to disclosures of abuse in sport (psychological, physical, sexual and neglect). The study, titled "The Capabilities, Opportunities and Motivations of Sport Volunteers to Respond to Child Abuse: Results From a National Survey in Australia," led by VU's Dr. Mary Woessner and Dr. Aurélie Pankowiak (a VicHealth Early Career Research Fellow) and published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, assessed how prepared volunteers are to respond to and report abuse in community sport.