Professionals Protecting Children: Child Protection and Nursing and Midwifery Education in Australia

Nurses and midwives have always played a vital role in caring for families and children, and our roles have evolved with changing societal needs and unfolding knowledge. Child abuse and neglect is not a new social problem but it is now more likely to be recognised as such. It raises complex and sensitive issues for all professions which work with families and children.
Our knowledge about child abuse and neglect has increased in recent years. We now understand that it is relatively common in many communities. We now also understand that child maltreatment can have very serious consequences in terms of the immediate suffering of children, the long-term effects on adult physical and mental health, and have an impact on subsequent generations