We speak with Gabby Hunt about her research into safeguarding practices within Australian faith-based organisations. Gabby’s research paper, "Just tick the box and move on": Australian Christian religious leaders reflect on safeguarding practices in their settings, examines how safeguarding is understood, operationalised, and embedded into the policies and practices of religious organisations. In this interview, Gabby shares insights from her research that are directly relevant for organisations like Kooyoora, reflecting on the barriers leaders face, the cultural shifts needed for authentic safeguarding, and the practices that can help faith-based communities embed child safety at the core of their mission.

Kooyoora is proud to present Safeguarding Matters: Live, a new educational forum featuring invited leading experts to encourage deeper engagement with critical safeguarding topics. The inaugural session, held on 27th November 2024, featured Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University.