When we facilitate children and young people’s participation in research, we acknowledge and respect the relevance and significance of their views and experiences. In turn, this research helps to ensure the evidence we gather is relevant for policy and practice that affects children and young people’s lives.
This webinar will help researchers and sector professionals to understand the significance of research with children and young people. It offers insight into the experience of engaging in research with children and young people for both researchers and participants.
AIFS Senior Research Fellow Dr Rachel Carson will present on the research process used for the Children and Young People in Separated Families study. Anne Hollonds, AIFS Director and newly appointed National Children’s Commissioner, will then facilitate a discussion between Rachel and NAPCAN’s Lesley Taylor.
Engaging with children and young people in research is not without its challenges. Securing the required ethical clearances may present issues where there are particular sensitivities relating to children’s involvement in the research. Researchers need to be trained in child-safe research practices, and have the skills to provide children and young people the opportunity to give informed consent to participate. And recruiting children and young people can also present challenges. However, these challenges do not detract from the need for research with children and young people and should not discourage researchers from undertaking this important research endeavour.
This webinar is being hosted in collaboration with NAPCAN in support of National Child Protection Week, 1–7 September 2020.