@article{ref1,
title="How university student-teachers for primary school learn about Department of Education Policy on child sexual abuse, and mandatory reporting: the sources of their professional information",
journal="Higher education",
year="2009",
author="Goldman, Juliette and Grimbeek, Peter",
volume="58",
number="2",
pages="221-239",
abstract="Many regional and local Departments of Education in many countries now require their primary school teachers to be mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse. However, many student-teachers are not provided with courses on child protection and its policy requirements during their pre-service university education. So, how do student-teachers source, and develop, their professional information about this important role? This study examines an Australian university cohort of final 4th year bachelor of education primary school student-teachers, asking them to identify and clarify the nature of any relevant professional information they accessed over the 4 years of their teacher education. The results show that, in the absence of formal child protection courses, such professional information was scarce and sporadic. Student-teachers consistently indicated a pattern of not learning about essential Department of Education policies and procedures whilst at university. These results, although disappointing, provide a rationale for university curriculum planners to design appropriate pre-service university training courses that initiate, develop, and enhance student-teachers' professional competencies as mandated reporters of child sexual abuse.<p />",
language="",
issn="0018-1560",
doi="10.1007/s10734-008-9192-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9192-7"
}