Chapter 20 - Understanding Child Maltreatment Across Ethnic Minority Communities in Australia: Physical Abuse, Neglect, Witnessing Domestic and Family Violence, and Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Child maltreatment occurs across all cultures, and there is a growing need for the Australian child protection system (CPS) to recognise and respond to migrant and refugee communities in a culturally responsive manner. It’s imperative for practitioners to become culturally sensitive and recognise the complex interactions of race, ethnicity, social class, patriarchy, religion, immigration status, and linguistic diversity and how these impact on ethnic minority families who come to the attention of the CPS. This chapter will provide an overview and ethnic case studies in understanding child maltreatment across migrant and refugee communities. It will also provide a cross-cultural child protection framework for practitioners to support and assess ethnic minority families who become involved with the statutory system.