'Caution children crossing ahead': Child protection education with pre-service teachers using a strengths approach

This paper outlines the literature review, methodology and Phase 1 findings from a research project into the use and potential of the Strengths Approach (McCashen, 2005) in the area of child protection education. The primary aim of the research involved documenting and analysing the implementation, use and potential of a Strengths Approach child protection education module with a group of Pre-service teachers in Queensland, Australia with a second level of discourse on a Strengths Approach to research methodology.Phase 1 responses have been analysed using The Column Approach (McCashen, 2005, p. 48) and findings appear to indicate that the opportunity to vision, explore strengths, resources and strategies presented in the Strengths Approach child protection module were valuable for increasing pre-service teacher awareness and confidence in child protection education. This paper explores interplay of early research findings with the significant practical and moral demands of child protection education for pre-service teachers.