Associate ProfessorJoel Scanlan

Project Total: $1,036,791; Jesuit Social Services (JSS) operates Stop It Now Australia. This service provides anonymous counselling for people who are worried about their thoughts or behaviours towards children. JSS and the UTAS team, led by Prichard and Scanlan, are planning to collaborate on an expansive action-research project, commencing in early 2025 and concluding in mid-2027. The working title of this collaboration is The CSAM Message Centre. UTAS will work closely with JSS on all aspects of the Centres operation, including close collaboration with a range of industry partners as they design and implement CSAM warning messages, and evaluate their effectiveness. Funded by: Jesuit Social Services ($799,590); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $10,000; This project aims to evaluate the readiness of healthcare workers for the upcoming implementation of the Digital Health Transformation program in Tasmania through 2032. This involves the adoption of a new statewide Electronic Medical Health Record (EMR) system. As the largest workforce in the state, change of this scale in this sector presents a range of challenges that need to be understood and addressed. The primary objective is to assess the current skills and capabilities of the workforce in relation to EMR systems. This assessment will identify strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted training and support initiatives to be developed. A comprehensive survey will be conducted to collect data on various aspects of health professional readiness, including computer literacy, experience with EMR systems, and attitudes towards technology in healthcare. The survey results will be analysed to identify key areas where additional training or support may be required. This study will focus initially on one hospital site, that will work with the research team to co-design the study and conduct the research. Further to a successful pilot the lessons learned, and tools developed can be shared with other sites. Findings of this project can inform the development of training programs and support resources, serve as a baseline for future research and the rollout of the program across the state in the coming decade. Funded by: TSBE (Internal Contribution); University of Tasmania ($9,954).

Project Total: $8,021; Researchers at the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at the University of Sunshine Coast were awarded seed funding within the LAUNCH Scheme to collaborate with an external partner on a research project and funding application relating to CSAM prevention. They have an existing collaboration with UTAS researchers, and this seed funding will further that relationship in developing a track record together ahead of a funding submission. Funded by: University of the Sunshine Coast - Grant-Seed; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $113,689; This project will design and create a chatbot to support adolescents in dealing with the risks posed by cyber bullying, grooming and image-based abuse. The project aims to evaluate the suitability of a purpose build chatbot to provide support to secondary aged students, enabling them to get assistance by connecting them to relevant existing resources and services. The project aims to provide an education tool to schools to enable them to have a responsive option to be used when students try to access problematic material on school computers. Funded by: eSafety Commissioner - Online Safety Grants Program ($113,689); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $14,130; This project is to develop a deterrence messaging research framework, based on current best practices in research. This framework will then be used by the Lucy Faithful Foundation lead consortium as they recruit and work with partners in deploying warning messages on this platform. The data of which will be used in later evaluations of the interventions to measure their effectiveness at deterring access to online child sexual abuse material. The broader project will be operating multiple interventions, with organisations of differing scales, and this project is to set in place the experimental framework to be used in these settings. Funded by: Lucy Faithfull Foundation ($14,130); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $90,937; This project will conduct research to inform the design of online messages for adolescents to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offending. Funded by: Australian Institute of Criminology ($90,937); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $91,501; This project will evaluate an online messaging system that attempts to dissuade Internet users from searching for child sexual abuse material. Funded by: Internet Watch Foundation ($91,501); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $73,000; This project aims to provide an educational program that enables current employees in maritime and offshore industries to upskill within ICT safety and security. The education focus aligns with an ongoing research project relating to current readiness within the industry in relation to cyber security; the course participants will be surveyed upon commencement to provide insight into the current state of the industry in relation to cyber risks. Funded by: Kompetanse Norge - Grant-Technology Development; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $130,496; This project will test the efficacy of automated messages to prevent the uploading of CEM produced by children and young adults, and, Internet users' engagement with prevention information contained on the website of the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Funded by: Australian Institute of Criminology - Grant ($130,496); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $13,000; A visiting research fellowship to undertake work in the area of Maritime Cyber Security. The trip will involve continued work on an existing project (with a PhD UTAS student), including data collection and work on publications. Additionally, the trip will involve the development and pilot delivery of a new Maritime IT unit, and work on strengthening research collaboration through the pursuit of funding opportunities including writing a grant application. Funded by: The Research Council of Norway - Grant ($13,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $10,000; CCTV footage is becoming increasing common within public spaces. This project is aiming to build a prototype system based on acted footage to identify individuals who may be in a depressive state and at risk of harming themselves. If successful, the project will then be trialled on some footage recorded in a public space. Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant - DKD Research Theme; University of Tasmania ($10,000).

Project Total: $11,000; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Better Health Research Development; University of Tasmania ($11,000).

Project Total: $1,750,000; Funded by: Research Council of Norway

Project Total: $5,000; CSIRO ON Prime Scholarship for travel to participate in ON Prime mentoring program. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation - Scholarship-ON Prime ($5,000); University of Tasmania.