People_

Professor Rita Shackel

BSc LLB GradDipEd MA PhD (Sydney) GradDipLegalPrac (College of Law); Admitted Legal Practitioner (NSW Supreme Court)

Interim Head of School and Dean
Professor of Law and Ethics

Phone

+61 2 935 10218

Address

F10 - Law School (Camperdown)

The University of Sydney

Details

Member of Sydney Environment Institute

Websites

Email

Sydney Institute of Criminology

Biographical details

Rita is a graduate of the University of Sydney holding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in law, science, psychology and education. She has worked as a lawyer, advocate, policy adviser, researcher, academic and consultant in a range of settings including in academe, government and in non-governmental organisations. Rita has served on numerous government, institutional and professional committees, and delivered professional and continuing education programs to legal practitioners, judicial officers, police, and health and welfare professionals nationally and internationally. Her work focuses on women and children's rights.

Research interests

Rita's research program is strongly interdisciplinary focussing on the efficacy and improvement of legal, health and social justice processes, with a specific focus on access to justice for children and women. She has a particular interest in sexual and gender based violence and crimes, the needs of victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse. Rita also has a research program on legal education, legal professionalism and ethics generally.

More specifically Rita's research interests include:

Children's rights
Investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse
Psychological and expert evidence
The needs and experiences of victims of interpersonal crime
Trauma-informed care and responses
Families and the law
Criminal and social justice processes
International criminal justice and human rights
Transitional justice
Sexual and gender based violence and crimes
Legal professional responsibility and legal ethics
Legal education and student well-being
Ethics in human research

Teaching and supervision

Supervision

Rita supervises research students across a broad range of topics related to criminal justice, sexual crimes, sexual and gender based violence, women's and children's rights, children’s interaction with the law, health and well-being of adult and child survivors of interpersonal crimes and trauma, evidence, legal professionalism and education. Rita supervises doctrinal, interdisciplinary and empirical research projects.

Current projects

Rita is currently undertaking research on:

The dynamics and disclosure of sexual and related violence
Prosecutorial decision-making in child sexual assault cases
The use of witness intermediaries for child and vulnerable witnesses
Admissibility of expert evidence in sexual assault cases
Evolving perceptions of childhood and the Child’s Right to Play
Ethical issues in research involving victims of crime
Building transformative partnerships in research and advocacy
Law student mental health and wellbeing

Her current projects include:

ACT Human Rights Commission (2023-24)

Project: Evaluation of the ACT Witness Intermediary Program

Investigators: Rita Shackel(CI), Judy Cashmore & Rukiya Stein

Corrective Services New South Wales (2022-23)

Project: Evaluation of the Victim Impact and Risk Management Support Seminars

Sole Investigator: Rita Shackel

Associations

Current memberships and recent professional affiliations include:

Admitted Legal Practitioner, NSW Supreme Court (1996)
Inaugural Chair, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights’ Children’s Rights Subcommittee
Member, Sexual Assault Review Committee (NSW)
Member, NSW Child Safety Standing Committee for Survivor and Faith Groups
Co-Chair, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights’ Women and Girl’s Rights Subcommittee (2017-2018)
Member, Specialist Accreditation Children's Law Advisory Committee (1 July 2012 - 30 June 2017)
Member, NSW Bar Association, Professional Conduct Committee #2 (2010-2015)
Member, Child Sexual Abuse Taskforce (NSW) (2015)

Awards and honours

Resource person, 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka Medical Association (2015)
National Reporter on The Rights of The Child for the International Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law (2014)
Member TEQSA Register of Experts 2013 in Criminal Law, Legal Practice, Law n.e.c., Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Curriculum Development & Design
Appointed Senior Innocenti Research Fellow, Innocenti Research Centre, UNICEF (2013)
Staff Exchange, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Centre for Rights & Justice, Faculty of Law (2013)
Critical Friend to the Safe Families Program, Aboriginal Affairs NSW (June 2011-June 2012)
ALTA 2012 Organising Committee – Secretary
2012 Professor C.C. de Silva Memorial Orator (Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians)
2012 Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka Orator
Specialist Resource Consultant, Symposium Annual Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (2012)
Advisor, Deputy Solicitor-General, AG’s Department Sri Lanka, Development of Guidelines for Police Investigators in Interviewing Child Victims (2012)
Dean’s Scholar, Georgetown Law Centre (2011)
Visiting Fellow, Department of Law, European University Institute (2011)
American Association of University Women, International Fellow
Visiting Scholar & Researcher, Duke Law School
Visiting Professor, Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville

PhD and master's project opportunities

Litigation/Dispute Resolution

Current research students

Project title	Research student
The role of authorised clinicians in facilitating child participation in New South Wales care and protection proceedings	Peiling KONG
Judicial interpretation and application of the statutory 'realistic possibility of restoration' test in care and protection proceedings in the Children's Court of NSW	Meredith MCLAINE
Characteristics, management and associations of sexual assault presentations to a sexual assault service; experience and understanding of the medical forensic sexual assault examination from the point of view of patients and the general population.	Mary STEWART
Exploring an assessment and treatment guideline for health care professionals who may treat patients presenting with sexual trauma.	Janine STIRLING

Selected publications

Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings

(Palgrave Macmillan, 2019)

Publications

By Type

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Edited Books

Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]

Book Chapters

Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Conclusion. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 339-351). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2019). International Criminal Court Prosecutions of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Challenges and Successes. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 187-217). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2019). Introduction. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 1-14). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Making Clients Out of Citizens: Deconstructing Women's Empowerment and Humanitarianism in Post-Conflict Interventions. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 53-76). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). From transition to transformation in gender equality: Lessons from Asia. In Amy Barrow, Joy Chia (Eds.), Gender, Violence and the State in Asia, (pp. 35-51). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). Navigating E-Spaces in Legal Education and Legal Practice. In Christopher Gane, Robin Hui Huang (Eds.), Legal Education in the Global Context: Opportunities and Challenges, (pp. 199-212). Surrey: Ashgate Publishing. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Tracing Australia's Implementation of Provisions Relating to Family Relations. In Olga Cvejic Jancic (Eds.), The Rights of the Child in a Changing World: 25 Years after The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, (pp. 37-60). Cham: Springer. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2015). The Child's Right to Play: Laying the Building Blocks for Optimal Health and Well-Being. In Anne B. Smith (Eds.), Enhancing Children's Rights: Connecting Research, Policy and Practice, (pp. 48-61). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2011). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Review of its Successes and Future Directions. In David Weissbrodt, Mary Rumsey (Eds.), Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups and Human Rights, (pp. 21-60). Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.

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Journals

Stewart, M., Templeton, D., Mooney-Somers, J., McGeehan, K., Freedman, E., Awad, E., Hunter, T., Shackel, R. (2025). They made a hard day feel a little easier’: Patients’ experiences of an integrated crisis response following recent sexual assault. Australian Journal of General Practice, 54(3), 135. [More Information]
Stirling, J., Wallace, Z., James, A., Shackel, R., Elliot, J. (2025). Trauma-informed management of patients with prior sexual trauma in pelvic health physiotherapy clinical practice. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal, 31(1), CJ24042.
Stewart, M., Shackel, R., Freedman, E., Awad, E., Hunter, T., Mooney-Somers, J., McGeechan, K., Templeton, D. (2025). Understanding and experience of the medical forensic examination after sexual assault: protocol for a mixed methods study. BMJ Open, 15(2), 15:e089478. [More Information]
Napier, S., Seto, M., Shackel, R., Cashmore, J., McGeechan, K. (2025). Viewing Child Sexual Abuse Material for the First Time: Findings from an Anonymous Survey of Internet Users. Sexual Abuse: a journal of research and treatment, (forthcoming).
Stewart, M., Shackel, R., Freedman, E., Templeton, D. (2024). Adult Sexual Assault Patients’ Experience of the Physical Examination Component of the Medical Forensic Examination: A Scoping Review to Identify Gaps in the Research Literature. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 25(1). [More Information]
Napier, S., Seto, M., Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2024). Characteristics that Predict Exposure to and Subsequent Intentional Viewing of Child Sexual Abuse Material Among a Community Sample of Internet Users. Child Abuse and Neglect, (forthcoming).
Iannelli, O., Sweeney-Nash, M., Loblay, V., Hindmarsh, G., Poulsen, A., Song, C., Wilson, C., Alam, M., Shackel, R., Banati, R., Troy, J., LaMonica, H., Hickie, I. (2024). Childcare in Contemporary Africa: Variations in Out-of-Care Home Childcare Practices, Their Outcomes, and Support for Caregivers: A Narrative Review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2024, 5552289. [More Information]
Martschuk, N., Cashmore, J., Hoff, S., Parkinson, P., Goodman-Delahunty, J., Shackel, R., Cowdery, N., Powell, M. (2024). The importance of consistency in complainants' evidence in the decision to prosecute child sexual abuse cases. Child Abuse and Neglect, 158, 107095. [More Information]
Funston, L., Krayem, G., Shackel, R. (2023). Transformative Social Responses to Domestic, Family, and Sexualized Violence: A Qualitative Exploration of Insight Exchange, a Victim-Survivor-Centered Initiative Informed by Response-Based Practice. Violence Against Women, 29(12-13), 2569-2598. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2022). Research on sexual assault to inform courts and legal professionals. Judicial Officers' Bulletin, 34(2), 15-20.
Maternowska, C., Shackel, R., Carlson, C., Levtov, R. (2021). The Global Politics of the Age-Gender Divide in Violence Against Women and Children. Global Public Health, 16(3), 354-365. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2020). The Child's Right to Participate and Be Heard - Is Research Ethics Exempted? Court of Conscience, 14, 70-73.
Hodgson, N., Cashmore, J., Cowdery, N., Goodman-Delahunty, J., Martschuk, N., Parkinson, P., Powell, M., Shackel, R. (2020). The Decision to Prosecute: A Comparative Analysis of Australian Prosecutorial Guidelines. Criminal Law Journal, 44, 155-172.
Burns, F., Soh, N., Shackel, R., Walter, G. (2019). Financial and caregivers' stressors in Australian law students - a qualitative analysis. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 26(3), 343-354. [More Information]
Kerr, A., Shackel, R. (2018). Equality with a vengeance: The over-incarceration of women. Precedent, (147), 20-25.
Shackel, R. (2017). The Role of Intellectual Beliefs and Professional Culture as a Source of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Compliance Elliance Journal, 3(2), 34-52.
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2015). Gender, poverty and violence: Transitional justice responses to converging processes of domination of women in eastern DRC, northern Uganda and Kenya. Women's Studies International Forum, 51, 110-117. [More Information]
Soh, N., Burns, F., Shackel, R., Robinson, B., Robertson, M., Walter, G. (2015). Law Student Mental Health Literacy and Distress: Finances, Accommodation and Travel Time. Legal Education Review, 25(1-2), 29-63.
Shackel, R. (2014). Book Review: Transitional Justice Theories edited by Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Teresa Koloma Beck, Christian Braun and Friederike Mieth. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(2), 263-265.
Shackel, R., McCowan, C., Angir, C., Fiske, L. (2014). Complexity, chaos, compassion: Partnerships making justice work for women. Development Bulletin, 76, 52-55.
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2014). Ending Rape in War: How Far Have We Come? Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 6(3), 123-138. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Gender Differences in the Context and Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1), 75-104.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Introduction: Responding to Historical Child Sexual Abuse and the Needs of Survivors. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1), 1-4.
Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2014). Towards Growth and Sustainability: The Institutional and Disciplinary Dynamics of Postgraduate Law Research Groups. Legal Education Review, 24(1 & 2), 201-219.
Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2013). 'The books don't talk to me!': Postgraduate student groups and research student identity formation. Research and Development in Higher Education: The Place of Learning and Teaching, 36, 37-47.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2013). Responding to child sexual abuse. Australian Review of Public Affairs, May 2013, 1-4.
Shackel, R. (2012). Beyond the Whiteboard: E-Learning in the Law Curriculum. Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal, 12(1), 105-132. [More Information]
Gordon, T., Shackel, R., Mark, S. (2012). Regulation of legal services in the e-world: a need to short circuit hot spots in ethics and novel practices? International Journal of the Legal Profession, 19(1), 55-87. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2012). The Dynamics of Disclosure of Child Sexual Victimisation: Implications for Investigation and Prosecution. Right Now: Human Rights in Australia. [More Information]
Steele, L., Shackel, R., Bell, F. (2012). The Importance of the Local in a Global Age: Analysis of Networking Strategies in Postgraduate Law Research Learning. Journal of the Australasian Law Teachers Association, 5(1&2), 1-13.
Shackel, R. (2011). Overcoming Misconceptions in the Courtroom on how Children Disclose Sexual Abuse. Judicial Officers' Bulletin, 23(4), 29-32.
Shackel, R. (2011). The Impact of Urbanization on the Child's Right to Play. My Name is Today, XVIII(Children's Right to Play), 1-5.
de Zoysa, P., Shackel, R. (2011). The Use of Psychology in the Administration of Justice in Sri Lanka. Siri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine Science and Law, 2(2), 7-10.
Shackel, R. (2011). Victim Impact Statements in Child Sexual Assault Cases: A Restorative Role or Restrained Rhetoric? UNSW Law Journal, 34(1), 211-249.
Shackel, R. (2010). Book Review: Serial Survivors: Women's Narratives of Surviving Rape. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 21(3), 495-498.
Shackel, R. (2009). How Child Victims Respond to Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 16(supplement), S55-S63. [More Information]
Loughnan, A., Shackel, R. (2009). The Travails of Postgraduate Research in Law. Legal Education Review, 19(1), 99-132.
Shackel, R. (2009). Understanding Children's Medium for Disclosing Sexual Abuse: A Tool for Overcoming Potential Misconceptions in the Courtroom. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 16(3), 379-393. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2008). The beliefs commonly held by adults about children's behavioral responses to sexual victimization. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(4), 485-495. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2007). Judicial Perceptions of Jurors' Understanding of How Children Respond to Sexual Victimisation. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 14(1), 130-137. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2003). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Review of its Successes and Future Directions. Australian International Law Journal, 2003, 21-60.
Shackel, R. (1999). Regulation of Child Pornography in the Electronic Age: The Role of International Law. Macarthur Law Review, 1999 (3), 143-176.
Shackel, R. (1999). The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Review of International Legal Responses. Australian International Law Journal, 1999, 91-126.
Shackel, R. (1997). Asian Yearbook of International Law [Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1993, xiv + 444 pages, ISBN 0-7923-1734-3, ISSN 0928-432X]. Australian International Law Journal, 1997, 234-239.

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Edited Journals

Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Current Issues in Criminal Justice: Responding to Historical Child Sexual Abuse. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1).

Conferences

Shackel, R., Martschuk, N., Holder, R., Krayem, G. (2023). Building trauma-informed education for professionals working with survivors of sexual violence. Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Annual Conference: Voice, Resistance, and Repair: Law and living together, UTS, Sydney: Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Shackel, R., Cashmore, J. (2023). Development of child sexual abuse prevention education for tertiary students. Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network Inaugural Workshop, Adelaide: The Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network.
Shackel, R. (2022). Challenges in Design and Delivery of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education in Higher Education – Navigating the Use and Potential Mental Health Impacts of Sensitive Materials in Teaching for Students and Academics. 10th European Conference on Mental Health, Lisbon: European Conference on Mental Health.
Shackel, R. (2020). Ensuring Online Law School Examinations are Fit for Purpose. CUHK LAW Directions in Legal Education 2020 - Online Conference on Teaching & Learning in Law, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Kerr, A. (2018). Experiences of Women Defendants in Domestic and Family Violence Cases. International Domestic Violence and Health Conference, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2018). Making Clients out of Citizens? Humanitarian Aid in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Interventions. XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Toronto, Canada: International Sociological Association (ISA).
Fernando, A., Uduwage, U., Chathurika, P., Chandrasekera, N., Edirisinghe, A., Shackel, R. (2018). Sextortion: a new angle in sexual violence against children. Annual Scientific Congress of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2018). The ethics of research involving survivors of sexual victimisation and violence and participants with complex trauma. Australasian Ethics Network Conference, Townsville, Qld: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Burns, F., Soh, N., Walter, G. (2017). Australian Law Students and Mental Distress: Insights from a Qualitative Survey at Sydney Law School. XXXVth International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2017, Prague, Czech Republic: Presentation.
Fernando, A., Shackel, R. (2017). Correlates of Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated Against Boys in a Clinical Sample in Sri Lanka. XXXVth International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2017, Prague, Czech Republic: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2017). Making Clients Out of Citizens: Deconstructing Women's Economic Empowerment and Humanitarianism in Post-Conflict Interventions. Geneva-Harvard-Renmin-Sydney Law Faculty Conference 2017: Law and Development, Cambridge, MA, USA: Presentation. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2017). The Ethics of Involving Victims of Serious Crimes with Histories of Complex Trauma in Research. 6th European Conference on Mental Health (ECMH) 2017, Berlin, Germany: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Soh, N., Burns, F., Walter, G. (2016). Career Ambivalence as a Potential Correlate of Law Student Mental Distress. Law Students and Law Faculty: Professional Challenges Conference 2016 - Fordham University, New York, NY, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Effects of Conflict-Induced Displacement on Women in DRC, Kenya and Uganda. United Nations Women Conference in conjunction with New York University Centre for Global Affairs 2016: Progress of the World's Women, New York, NY, USA: Presentation. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). Key Note: Pathways for effective collaboration in responding to child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities. Batiba Guwiyal 'Extinguish the Flame' Conference 2016, Brisbane, Qld: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2015). Can we improve outcomes for Child & Adolescent Victims of Crime? Victim Support Service in partnership with AnglicareSA present: Improving Justice & Support for Child and Adolescent Victims of Crime, Adelaide, SA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2015). Effects of sexual abuse on the child victim: evidence from international research. Sri Lanka Medical Association 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress 2015: Connect, Communicate, Collaborate for Improved Health and Healthcare, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2015). Making clients out of citizens: 'Women's economic Empowerment' programs and gender justice. Gender, Poverty and Violence: Implications for gender justice in post conflict settings - A Global Symposium 2015, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2015). Understanding the effects of child sexual abuse and managing prosecutions. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lawyers Conference 2015, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Burns, F., Shackel, R. (2015). Unravelling mental distress in law and medical students: A comparative study. Australasian Law Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference 2015: Access to Justice and Legal Education, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
Soh, N., Burns, F., Shackel, R., Walter, G. (2015). Unravelling mental distress in law students. National Wellness for Law Forum 2015 - Wellness in Legal Education and Practice: Towards Integration and New Connections, Canberra, ACT: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). A Social Justice Focus on Historical and Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. Sydney Social Justice Network Inaugural Conference 2014, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2014). From Transition to Transformation in Gender Justice. Gender Studies Program 2014: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel: Presentation.
Abdel-Magied, Y., Archer, J., Ransom, H., Shackel, R., Lantos Swett, K., Szoke, H., Mathew, P. (2014). International Development: Global Issues and Opportunities, including for Young Women and Girls. International Dialogue on Women in Leadership 2014, Brisbane, Qld: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2014). Recognising the Continuum of Violence Perpetrated against Women. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Centre for Rights and Justice Conference 2014: Gender, Violence and the State in Asia, Shatin, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Hochwald, B., Shackel, R. (2014). Transforming Global Communities Through Collaboration and Creative Partnerships. International University Global Theatre Experience (IUGTE) International Conference 2014: Theatre Between Tradition and Contemporaneity, Carrara, Tuscany, Italy: Presentation.
Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2013). 'The books don't talk to me!': Postgraduate student groups and research student identity formation. 36th Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual International Conference 2013, Sydney, Australia: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Inc.
Shackel, R. (2013). Navigating E-Spaces in Legal Education. Law Deans' Summit - Legal Education in the Global Context: Opportunities and Challenges 2013 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). The dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse and Assessing Credibility. Family Consultants 2013: Family Court of Australia, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). The Ethics of Research Involving Victims of Crime. XXXIIIrd Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH 2013), Canada: International Academy of Law and Mental Health.
Bell, F., Shackel, R. (2013). The Reluctant Gatekeeper?: The role of law teachers in postgraduate law research networks. The Australasian Law Teachers Assocation (ALTA) Annual Conference 2013: Law Teachers as Gatekeepers, Canberra, ACT: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). Tracing the Contours of Research on Transitional Justice for Women Affected by Violence in Africa. Centre for Rights and Justice Seminar Series 2014: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Law, Shatin, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). Transforming Women's Lives: Devising Gender-Responsive Approaches to Transitional Justice in the African Context. Centre for Global Development, Leeds and Transformative Justice Network 2013, Leeds, England: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). A Comparative Analysis of Networking and Discussion Groups as a Strategy for Postgraduate Research Learning. Australasian Law Teachers Association Conference (ALTA) 2012: Legal Education for a Global Community, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Chakrabarti, P., Diaz, A., Shackel, R. (2012). Alternative Courts on the Brain: Psychologically Based, but Are They Sound? Law Without Walls ConPosium 2012, Coral Gables, FL, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse - The Psychological Dimensions. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse: Best Practice & Future Directions. Forensic Medicine Fellows Workshop 2012: Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse: Perspectives from Recent Research. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians 2012: Professor C.C. de Silva Memorial Oration, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Developing Guidelines for Interviewing Child Victims. Sri Lanka Ministry of Justice 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse by Children. Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court Concurrent Conference 2012, Hobart, Tas: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Ethics for Government Lawyers. Government Solicitors Conference 2012, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Law Without Walls: Technology and Social Media. International Legal Ethics Conference V (ILEC)2012, Banff, AB, Canada: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Legal Ethics and Regulation Education around the Globe: Round Table. International Legal Ethics Conference V (ILEC)2012, Banff, AB, Canada: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). The Need for Multidisciplinary Understandings in Forensic Responses to Sexual Assault. Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka Oration 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Understanding the dynamics of child sexual assault and implications for prosecution. New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Solicitor's Conference 2012, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2011). Child Sexual Abuse: A Cloak of Secrecy. New South Wales Aboriginal Affairs 2011, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2011). Preliminary findings of a qualitative study on the needs of victims of crime in Australia. Meeting the Needs of Victims of Crime 2011: Australian Institute of Criminology, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2011). Understanding the Basis for Overturning Convictions in Child Sexual Assault Cases. XXXII International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2011, Canada: International Academy of Law and Mental Health.
Shackel, R. (2010). Child Sexual Abuse - Legal & Therapeutic Dimensions. Australian Society of Sex Educators Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT) Conference 2010, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Child Sexual Abuse: Changing Lenses. Sex Researchers Team 2010: The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Emerging Issues in Prosecution of Child Sexual Assault Cases. Sydney Evidence Conference 2010: Sydney School of Law, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Guilty or Not-Guilty: Lab Rats in the Courtroom. Degree in a Day Sessions 2011: University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Prosecuting Child Sexual Assault Cases: An Empirical Study of the Use of Evidence. Sydney Evidence Conference 2010: Sydney School of Law, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). The PhD Experience in Law: Starting a Conversation. Sydney Law School Lunchtime Seminar Series 2010, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). The Role of Forensic Opinion and Evaluation of Victim Impact Statements in Child Sexual Assault Cases. Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Section of Forensic Psychiatry - An International Conference 2010, Prato, Italy: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Smith, B. (2009). Teaching Case Analysis Skills - an Electronic Tool to the Rescue? Australasian Law Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference 2009: The Doctor as GOD, The Corporation as QUEEN, What about the Country?, Parramatta, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2008). Child Victim Responses To Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse. 8th Annual Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) 2008: The Interface between Forensic and General Mental Health Services, Vienna, Austria: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2008). Children and the Law. Sydney University Law Society Public Forum 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Loughnan, A., Shackel, R. (2008). Surviving the PhD. Sydney Law School Postgraduate Conference 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2004). Urban Living, Changing Perceptions of Childhood and New Barriers to Childrenâ€™s Play. IPA/USA Triennial Conference: Childrenâ€™sPlay: Learning from the Past, Planning for the Future (2004), Baltimore, Maryland: International Play Association (USA).
Shackel, R. (2003). A Comparative Study of the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases in Australia and the United States. AAUW-NC State Convention (2003) 'Education: Our Legacy and Our Future', Raleigh, North Carolina: American Association of University Women North Carolina.
Shackel, R. (2003). The Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases in the United States. American Association of University Women (AAUW) Chapel Hill Local Branch Forum 2003, Chapel Hill, NC, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2003). The Use of Expert Evidence in the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases. AAUW Chapel Hill 80th Anniversary Symposium (2003), Sydney, Australia: American Association of University Women.
Shackel, R. (2002). The Use of Expert Evidence Relating to the Behaviour of Children who have been Sexually Abused. Brandeis School of Law 2002: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2002). Women, Children and Gender Equityâ€™ Plenary. AAUW International Symposium: Global Voices for Gender Equity, Washington DC, USA: American Association of University Women.
Shackel, R. (2001). Discrimination in the Legal Profession. College of Law: Continuing Legal Education Program 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2001). Discrimination in the Legal Profession. City of Sydney Law Society Conference (CLE 2001), Sydney, Australia: City of Sydney Law Society.
Shackel, R. (2001). The Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse: Perceptions in the Criminal Justice System. Health Law Postgraduate Thesis Candidates Workshop 2001: University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2001). The new anti-discrimination regulation. CLE Program (2001), Sydney, Australia: College of Law.
Shackel, R. (2000). The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome: Does it have a Forensic Role? 25th International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2000, Siena, Italy: Presentation.
Woellner, R., Zetler, J., Shackel, R. (1997). Educational Malpractice: Recent Developments in Australia. 6th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association (ANZELA 1997), Australia: Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association.

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Magazine / Newspaper Articles

Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2017). Internally displaced women: social rupture and political voice. Open Democracy. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2013). Evidentiary Challenges in Child Sexual Assault Matters. JurisDiction, 1.
Shackel, R. (2013). Hitting the books: The case for going back to school. The Law Society of NSW: Career Hub.
Shackel, R. (2005). The Child's Right to Play. PlayRights Journal, March.
Shackel, R. (2005). The Child's Right to Play under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. PlayRights Magazine, 11.

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Report

Shackel, R. (2016). Child sexual offence appeals in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal 2005-13: An appendix to "The Impact of Delayed Reporting on the Prosecution and Outcomes of Child Sexual Abuse Cases". [More Information]

Reference Works

Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Kenya). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Kenya).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Uganda). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Uganda).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]

Other

Loughnan, A., McKay, C., Mitchell, T., Shackel, R. (2018), Joint submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on behalf of the Institute of Criminology: Review of s 61HA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
McCowan, C., Shackel, R., Angir, C., Fiske, L. (2014), Women in partnership: Making justice work for women.

Research Reports

Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2018). Evaluation of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot: Final Outcome Evaluation Report, (pp. 1 - 133). Sydney, Australia: Victims Services, NSW Department of Justice. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Katz, I., Shackel, R., Valentine, K. (2017). Evaluation of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot: Process Evaluation Report, (pp. 1 - 11). Sydney, Australia: Social Policy Research Centre: University of NSW. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Democratic Republic of Congo Country Report, (pp. 1 - 165). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Kenya Country Report, (pp. 1 - 177). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Uganda Country Report, (pp. 1 - 169). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Taylor, A., Shackel, R., Parkinson, P. (2016). The Impact of Delayed Reporting on the Prosecution and Outcomes of Child Sexual Abuse Cases, August 2016, (pp. 1 - 309). Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2013). The long-term effects of child sexual abuse, CFCA Paper No. 11 2013, (pp. 1 - 29). Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. [More Information]

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By Year

Expand all

2025

Stewart, M., Templeton, D., Mooney-Somers, J., McGeehan, K., Freedman, E., Awad, E., Hunter, T., Shackel, R. (2025). They made a hard day feel a little easier’: Patients’ experiences of an integrated crisis response following recent sexual assault. Australian Journal of General Practice, 54(3), 135. [More Information]
Stirling, J., Wallace, Z., James, A., Shackel, R., Elliot, J. (2025). Trauma-informed management of patients with prior sexual trauma in pelvic health physiotherapy clinical practice. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal, 31(1), CJ24042.
Stewart, M., Shackel, R., Freedman, E., Awad, E., Hunter, T., Mooney-Somers, J., McGeechan, K., Templeton, D. (2025). Understanding and experience of the medical forensic examination after sexual assault: protocol for a mixed methods study. BMJ Open, 15(2), 15:e089478. [More Information]
Napier, S., Seto, M., Shackel, R., Cashmore, J., McGeechan, K. (2025). Viewing Child Sexual Abuse Material for the First Time: Findings from an Anonymous Survey of Internet Users. Sexual Abuse: a journal of research and treatment, (forthcoming).

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2024

Stewart, M., Shackel, R., Freedman, E., Templeton, D. (2024). Adult Sexual Assault Patients’ Experience of the Physical Examination Component of the Medical Forensic Examination: A Scoping Review to Identify Gaps in the Research Literature. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 25(1). [More Information]
Napier, S., Seto, M., Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2024). Characteristics that Predict Exposure to and Subsequent Intentional Viewing of Child Sexual Abuse Material Among a Community Sample of Internet Users. Child Abuse and Neglect, (forthcoming).
Iannelli, O., Sweeney-Nash, M., Loblay, V., Hindmarsh, G., Poulsen, A., Song, C., Wilson, C., Alam, M., Shackel, R., Banati, R., Troy, J., LaMonica, H., Hickie, I. (2024). Childcare in Contemporary Africa: Variations in Out-of-Care Home Childcare Practices, Their Outcomes, and Support for Caregivers: A Narrative Review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2024, 5552289. [More Information]
Martschuk, N., Cashmore, J., Hoff, S., Parkinson, P., Goodman-Delahunty, J., Shackel, R., Cowdery, N., Powell, M. (2024). The importance of consistency in complainants' evidence in the decision to prosecute child sexual abuse cases. Child Abuse and Neglect, 158, 107095. [More Information]

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2023

Shackel, R., Martschuk, N., Holder, R., Krayem, G. (2023). Building trauma-informed education for professionals working with survivors of sexual violence. Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Annual Conference: Voice, Resistance, and Repair: Law and living together, UTS, Sydney: Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Shackel, R., Cashmore, J. (2023). Development of child sexual abuse prevention education for tertiary students. Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network Inaugural Workshop, Adelaide: The Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network.
Funston, L., Krayem, G., Shackel, R. (2023). Transformative Social Responses to Domestic, Family, and Sexualized Violence: A Qualitative Exploration of Insight Exchange, a Victim-Survivor-Centered Initiative Informed by Response-Based Practice. Violence Against Women, 29(12-13), 2569-2598. [More Information]

2022

Shackel, R. (2022). Challenges in Design and Delivery of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education in Higher Education – Navigating the Use and Potential Mental Health Impacts of Sensitive Materials in Teaching for Students and Academics. 10th European Conference on Mental Health, Lisbon: European Conference on Mental Health.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2022). Research on sexual assault to inform courts and legal professionals. Judicial Officers' Bulletin, 34(2), 15-20.

2021

Maternowska, C., Shackel, R., Carlson, C., Levtov, R. (2021). The Global Politics of the Age-Gender Divide in Violence Against Women and Children. Global Public Health, 16(3), 354-365. [More Information]

2020

Shackel, R. (2020). Ensuring Online Law School Examinations are Fit for Purpose. CUHK LAW Directions in Legal Education 2020 - Online Conference on Teaching & Learning in Law, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2020). The Child's Right to Participate and Be Heard - Is Research Ethics Exempted? Court of Conscience, 14, 70-73.
Hodgson, N., Cashmore, J., Cowdery, N., Goodman-Delahunty, J., Martschuk, N., Parkinson, P., Powell, M., Shackel, R. (2020). The Decision to Prosecute: A Comparative Analysis of Australian Prosecutorial Guidelines. Criminal Law Journal, 44, 155-172.

2019

Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Conclusion. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 339-351). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Burns, F., Soh, N., Shackel, R., Walter, G. (2019). Financial and caregivers' stressors in Australian law students - a qualitative analysis. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 26(3), 343-354. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2019). International Criminal Court Prosecutions of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Challenges and Successes. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 187-217). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2019). Introduction. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 1-14). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Making Clients Out of Citizens: Deconstructing Women's Empowerment and Humanitarianism in Post-Conflict Interventions. In Rita Shackel, Lucy Fiske (Eds.), Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings, (pp. 53-76). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2019). Rethinking Transitional Gender Justice: Transformative Approaches in Post-Conflict Settings. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]

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2018

Kerr, A., Shackel, R. (2018). Equality with a vengeance: The over-incarceration of women. Precedent, (147), 20-25.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2018). Evaluation of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot: Final Outcome Evaluation Report, (pp. 1 - 133). Sydney, Australia: Victims Services, NSW Department of Justice. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Kerr, A. (2018). Experiences of Women Defendants in Domestic and Family Violence Cases. International Domestic Violence and Health Conference, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
Loughnan, A., McKay, C., Mitchell, T., Shackel, R. (2018), Joint submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on behalf of the Institute of Criminology: Review of s 61HA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2018). Making Clients out of Citizens? Humanitarian Aid in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Interventions. XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Toronto, Canada: International Sociological Association (ISA).
Fernando, A., Uduwage, U., Chathurika, P., Chandrasekera, N., Edirisinghe, A., Shackel, R. (2018). Sextortion: a new angle in sexual violence against children. Annual Scientific Congress of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2018). The ethics of research involving survivors of sexual victimisation and violence and participants with complex trauma. Australasian Ethics Network Conference, Townsville, Qld: Presentation.

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2017

Shackel, R., Burns, F., Soh, N., Walter, G. (2017). Australian Law Students and Mental Distress: Insights from a Qualitative Survey at Sydney Law School. XXXVth International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2017, Prague, Czech Republic: Presentation.
Fernando, A., Shackel, R. (2017). Correlates of Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated Against Boys in a Clinical Sample in Sri Lanka. XXXVth International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2017, Prague, Czech Republic: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Katz, I., Shackel, R., Valentine, K. (2017). Evaluation of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot: Process Evaluation Report, (pp. 1 - 11). Sydney, Australia: Social Policy Research Centre: University of NSW. [More Information]
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2017). Internally displaced women: social rupture and political voice. Open Democracy. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2017). Making Clients Out of Citizens: Deconstructing Women's Economic Empowerment and Humanitarianism in Post-Conflict Interventions. Geneva-Harvard-Renmin-Sydney Law Faculty Conference 2017: Law and Development, Cambridge, MA, USA: Presentation. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2017). The Ethics of Involving Victims of Serious Crimes with Histories of Complex Trauma in Research. 6th European Conference on Mental Health (ECMH) 2017, Berlin, Germany: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2017). The Role of Intellectual Beliefs and Professional Culture as a Source of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Compliance Elliance Journal, 3(2), 34-52.

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2016

Shackel, R., Soh, N., Burns, F., Walter, G. (2016). Career Ambivalence as a Potential Correlate of Law Student Mental Distress. Law Students and Law Faculty: Professional Challenges Conference 2016 - Fordham University, New York, NY, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2016). Child sexual offence appeals in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal 2005-13: An appendix to "The Impact of Delayed Reporting on the Prosecution and Outcomes of Child Sexual Abuse Cases". [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Effects of Conflict-Induced Displacement on Women in DRC, Kenya and Uganda. United Nations Women Conference in conjunction with New York University Centre for Global Affairs 2016: Progress of the World's Women, New York, NY, USA: Presentation. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). From transition to transformation in gender equality: Lessons from Asia. In Amy Barrow, Joy Chia (Eds.), Gender, Violence and the State in Asia, (pp. 35-51). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). Key Note: Pathways for effective collaboration in responding to child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities. Batiba Guwiyal 'Extinguish the Flame' Conference 2016, Brisbane, Qld: Presentation.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Democratic Republic of Congo Country Report, (pp. 1 - 165). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Kenya Country Report, (pp. 1 - 177). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2016). Making Justice Work for Women: Uganda Country Report, (pp. 1 - 169). Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). Navigating E-Spaces in Legal Education and Legal Practice. In Christopher Gane, Robin Hui Huang (Eds.), Legal Education in the Global Context: Opportunities and Challenges, (pp. 199-212). Surrey: Ashgate Publishing. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Taylor, A., Shackel, R., Parkinson, P. (2016). The Impact of Delayed Reporting on the Prosecution and Outcomes of Child Sexual Abuse Cases, August 2016, (pp. 1 - 309). Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2016). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Tracing Australia's Implementation of Provisions Relating to Family Relations. In Olga Cvejic Jancic (Eds.), The Rights of the Child in a Changing World: 25 Years after The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, (pp. 37-60). Cham: Springer. [More Information]

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2015

Shackel, R. (2015). Can we improve outcomes for Child & Adolescent Victims of Crime? Victim Support Service in partnership with AnglicareSA present: Improving Justice & Support for Child and Adolescent Victims of Crime, Adelaide, SA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2015). Effects of sexual abuse on the child victim: evidence from international research. Sri Lanka Medical Association 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress 2015: Connect, Communicate, Collaborate for Improved Health and Healthcare, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2015). Gender, poverty and violence: Transitional justice responses to converging processes of domination of women in eastern DRC, northern Uganda and Kenya. Women's Studies International Forum, 51, 110-117. [More Information]
Soh, N., Burns, F., Shackel, R., Robinson, B., Robertson, M., Walter, G. (2015). Law Student Mental Health Literacy and Distress: Finances, Accommodation and Travel Time. Legal Education Review, 25(1-2), 29-63.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L. (2015). Making clients out of citizens: 'Women's economic Empowerment' programs and gender justice. Gender, Poverty and Violence: Implications for gender justice in post conflict settings - A Global Symposium 2015, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2015). The Child's Right to Play: Laying the Building Blocks for Optimal Health and Well-Being. In Anne B. Smith (Eds.), Enhancing Children's Rights: Connecting Research, Policy and Practice, (pp. 48-61). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2015). Understanding the effects of child sexual abuse and managing prosecutions. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lawyers Conference 2015, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Burns, F., Shackel, R. (2015). Unravelling mental distress in law and medical students: A comparative study. Australasian Law Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference 2015: Access to Justice and Legal Education, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
Soh, N., Burns, F., Shackel, R., Walter, G. (2015). Unravelling mental distress in law students. National Wellness for Law Forum 2015 - Wellness in Legal Education and Practice: Towards Integration and New Connections, Canberra, ACT: Presentation.

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2014

Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). A Social Justice Focus on Historical and Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. Sydney Social Justice Network Inaugural Conference 2014, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2014). Book Review: Transitional Justice Theories edited by Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Teresa Koloma Beck, Christian Braun and Friederike Mieth. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(2), 263-265.
Shackel, R., McCowan, C., Angir, C., Fiske, L. (2014). Complexity, chaos, compassion: Partnerships making justice work for women. Development Bulletin, 76, 52-55.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Current Issues in Criminal Justice: Responding to Historical Child Sexual Abuse. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1).
Fiske, L., Shackel, R. (2014). Ending Rape in War: How Far Have We Come? Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 6(3), 123-138. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2014). From Transition to Transformation in Gender Justice. Gender Studies Program 2014: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Gender Differences in the Context and Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1), 75-104.
Abdel-Magied, Y., Archer, J., Ransom, H., Shackel, R., Lantos Swett, K., Szoke, H., Mathew, P. (2014). International Development: Global Issues and Opportunities, including for Young Women and Girls. International Dialogue on Women in Leadership 2014, Brisbane, Qld: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2014). Introduction: Responding to Historical Child Sexual Abuse and the Needs of Survivors. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26(1), 1-4.
Shackel, R. (2014). Recognising the Continuum of Violence Perpetrated against Women. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Centre for Rights and Justice Conference 2014: Gender, Violence and the State in Asia, Shatin, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2014). Towards Growth and Sustainability: The Institutional and Disciplinary Dynamics of Postgraduate Law Research Groups. Legal Education Review, 24(1 & 2), 201-219.
Hochwald, B., Shackel, R. (2014). Transforming Global Communities Through Collaboration and Creative Partnerships. International University Global Theatre Experience (IUGTE) International Conference 2014: Theatre Between Tradition and Contemporaneity, Carrara, Tuscany, Italy: Presentation.
McCowan, C., Shackel, R., Angir, C., Fiske, L. (2014), Women in partnership: Making justice work for women.

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2013

Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2013). 'The books don't talk to me!': Postgraduate student groups and research student identity formation. Research and Development in Higher Education: The Place of Learning and Teaching, 36, 37-47.
Bell, F., Shackel, R., Steele, L. (2013). 'The books don't talk to me!': Postgraduate student groups and research student identity formation. 36th Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual International Conference 2013, Sydney, Australia: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Inc.
Shackel, R. (2013). Evidentiary Challenges in Child Sexual Assault Matters. JurisDiction, 1.
Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Kenya). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Kenya).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Fiske, L., McCowan, C., Angir, C. (2013). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Uganda). Fieldwork Handbook: Making Transitional Justice Work for Women (Uganda).Australia: Australian Development Research Award Scheme. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2013). Hitting the books: The case for going back to school. The Law Society of NSW: Career Hub.
Shackel, R. (2013). Navigating E-Spaces in Legal Education. Law Deans' Summit - Legal Education in the Global Context: Opportunities and Challenges 2013 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2013). Responding to child sexual abuse. Australian Review of Public Affairs, May 2013, 1-4.
Shackel, R. (2013). The dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse and Assessing Credibility. Family Consultants 2013: Family Court of Australia, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). The Ethics of Research Involving Victims of Crime. XXXIIIrd Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH 2013), Canada: International Academy of Law and Mental Health.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2013). The long-term effects of child sexual abuse, CFCA Paper No. 11 2013, (pp. 1 - 29). Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. [More Information]
Bell, F., Shackel, R. (2013). The Reluctant Gatekeeper?: The role of law teachers in postgraduate law research networks. The Australasian Law Teachers Assocation (ALTA) Annual Conference 2013: Law Teachers as Gatekeepers, Canberra, ACT: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). Tracing the Contours of Research on Transitional Justice for Women Affected by Violence in Africa. Centre for Rights and Justice Seminar Series 2014: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Law, Shatin, Hong Kong: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2013). Transforming Women's Lives: Devising Gender-Responsive Approaches to Transitional Justice in the African Context. Centre for Global Development, Leeds and Transformative Justice Network 2013, Leeds, England: Presentation.

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2012

Shackel, R. (2012). A Comparative Analysis of Networking and Discussion Groups as a Strategy for Postgraduate Research Learning. Australasian Law Teachers Association Conference (ALTA) 2012: Legal Education for a Global Community, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Chakrabarti, P., Diaz, A., Shackel, R. (2012). Alternative Courts on the Brain: Psychologically Based, but Are They Sound? Law Without Walls ConPosium 2012, Coral Gables, FL, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Beyond the Whiteboard: E-Learning in the Law Curriculum. Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal, 12(1), 105-132. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse - The Psychological Dimensions. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse: Best Practice & Future Directions. Forensic Medicine Fellows Workshop 2012: Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Child Sexual Abuse: Perspectives from Recent Research. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians 2012: Professor C.C. de Silva Memorial Oration, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Developing Guidelines for Interviewing Child Victims. Sri Lanka Ministry of Justice 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse by Children. Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court Concurrent Conference 2012, Hobart, Tas: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Ethics for Government Lawyers. Government Solicitors Conference 2012, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Law Without Walls: Technology and Social Media. International Legal Ethics Conference V (ILEC)2012, Banff, AB, Canada: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Legal Ethics and Regulation Education around the Globe: Round Table. International Legal Ethics Conference V (ILEC)2012, Banff, AB, Canada: Presentation.
Gordon, T., Shackel, R., Mark, S. (2012). Regulation of legal services in the e-world: a need to short circuit hot spots in ethics and novel practices? International Journal of the Legal Profession, 19(1), 55-87. [More Information]
Shackel, R. (2012). The Dynamics of Disclosure of Child Sexual Victimisation: Implications for Investigation and Prosecution. Right Now: Human Rights in Australia. [More Information]
Steele, L., Shackel, R., Bell, F. (2012). The Importance of the Local in a Global Age: Analysis of Networking Strategies in Postgraduate Law Research Learning. Journal of the Australasian Law Teachers Association, 5(1&2), 1-13.
Shackel, R. (2012). The Need for Multidisciplinary Understandings in Forensic Responses to Sexual Assault. Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka Oration 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2012). Understanding the dynamics of child sexual assault and implications for prosecution. New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Solicitor's Conference 2012, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.

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2011

Shackel, R. (2011). Child Sexual Abuse: A Cloak of Secrecy. New South Wales Aboriginal Affairs 2011, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2011). Overcoming Misconceptions in the Courtroom on how Children Disclose Sexual Abuse. Judicial Officers' Bulletin, 23(4), 29-32.
Shackel, R. (2011). Preliminary findings of a qualitative study on the needs of victims of crime in Australia. Meeting the Needs of Victims of Crime 2011: Australian Institute of Criminology, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2011). The Impact of Urbanization on the Child's Right to Play. My Name is Today, XVIII(Children's Right to Play), 1-5.
Shackel, R. (2011). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Review of its Successes and Future Directions. In David Weissbrodt, Mary Rumsey (Eds.), Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups and Human Rights, (pp. 21-60). Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.
de Zoysa, P., Shackel, R. (2011). The Use of Psychology in the Administration of Justice in Sri Lanka. Siri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine Science and Law, 2(2), 7-10.
Shackel, R. (2011). Understanding the Basis for Overturning Convictions in Child Sexual Assault Cases. XXXII International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2011, Canada: International Academy of Law and Mental Health.
Shackel, R. (2011). Victim Impact Statements in Child Sexual Assault Cases: A Restorative Role or Restrained Rhetoric? UNSW Law Journal, 34(1), 211-249.

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2010

Shackel, R. (2010). Book Review: Serial Survivors: Women's Narratives of Surviving Rape. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 21(3), 495-498.
Shackel, R. (2010). Child Sexual Abuse - Legal & Therapeutic Dimensions. Australian Society of Sex Educators Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT) Conference 2010, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Child Sexual Abuse: Changing Lenses. Sex Researchers Team 2010: The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Emerging Issues in Prosecution of Child Sexual Assault Cases. Sydney Evidence Conference 2010: Sydney School of Law, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Guilty or Not-Guilty: Lab Rats in the Courtroom. Degree in a Day Sessions 2011: University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). Prosecuting Child Sexual Assault Cases: An Empirical Study of the Use of Evidence. Sydney Evidence Conference 2010: Sydney School of Law, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). The PhD Experience in Law: Starting a Conversation. Sydney Law School Lunchtime Seminar Series 2010, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2010). The Role of Forensic Opinion and Evaluation of Victim Impact Statements in Child Sexual Assault Cases. Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Section of Forensic Psychiatry - An International Conference 2010, Prato, Italy: Presentation.

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2009

Shackel, R. (2009). How Child Victims Respond to Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 16(supplement), S55-S63. [More Information]
Shackel, R., Smith, B. (2009). Teaching Case Analysis Skills - an Electronic Tool to the Rescue? Australasian Law Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference 2009: The Doctor as GOD, The Corporation as QUEEN, What about the Country?, Parramatta, NSW: Presentation.
Loughnan, A., Shackel, R. (2009). The Travails of Postgraduate Research in Law. Legal Education Review, 19(1), 99-132.
Shackel, R. (2009). Understanding Children's Medium for Disclosing Sexual Abuse: A Tool for Overcoming Potential Misconceptions in the Courtroom. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 16(3), 379-393. [More Information]

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2008

Shackel, R. (2008). Child Victim Responses To Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse. 8th Annual Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) 2008: The Interface between Forensic and General Mental Health Services, Vienna, Austria: Presentation.
Cashmore, J., Shackel, R. (2008). Children and the Law. Sydney University Law Society Public Forum 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Loughnan, A., Shackel, R. (2008). Surviving the PhD. Sydney Law School Postgraduate Conference 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2008). The beliefs commonly held by adults about children's behavioral responses to sexual victimization. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(4), 485-495. [More Information]

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2007

Shackel, R. (2007). Judicial Perceptions of Jurors' Understanding of How Children Respond to Sexual Victimisation. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 14(1), 130-137. [More Information]

2005

Shackel, R. (2005). The Child's Right to Play. PlayRights Journal, March.
Shackel, R. (2005). The Child's Right to Play under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. PlayRights Magazine, 11.

2004

Shackel, R. (2004). Urban Living, Changing Perceptions of Childhood and New Barriers to Childrenâ€™s Play. IPA/USA Triennial Conference: Childrenâ€™sPlay: Learning from the Past, Planning for the Future (2004), Baltimore, Maryland: International Play Association (USA).

2003

Shackel, R. (2003). A Comparative Study of the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases in Australia and the United States. AAUW-NC State Convention (2003) 'Education: Our Legacy and Our Future', Raleigh, North Carolina: American Association of University Women North Carolina.
Shackel, R. (2003). The Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases in the United States. American Association of University Women (AAUW) Chapel Hill Local Branch Forum 2003, Chapel Hill, NC, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2003). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Review of its Successes and Future Directions. Australian International Law Journal, 2003, 21-60.
Shackel, R. (2003). The Use of Expert Evidence in the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases. AAUW Chapel Hill 80th Anniversary Symposium (2003), Sydney, Australia: American Association of University Women.

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2002

Shackel, R. (2002). The Use of Expert Evidence Relating to the Behaviour of Children who have been Sexually Abused. Brandeis School of Law 2002: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2002). Women, Children and Gender Equityâ€™ Plenary. AAUW International Symposium: Global Voices for Gender Equity, Washington DC, USA: American Association of University Women.

2001

Shackel, R. (2001). Discrimination in the Legal Profession. College of Law: Continuing Legal Education Program 2008, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2001). Discrimination in the Legal Profession. City of Sydney Law Society Conference (CLE 2001), Sydney, Australia: City of Sydney Law Society.
Shackel, R. (2001). The Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse: Perceptions in the Criminal Justice System. Health Law Postgraduate Thesis Candidates Workshop 2001: University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW: Presentation.
Shackel, R. (2001). The new anti-discrimination regulation. CLE Program (2001), Sydney, Australia: College of Law.

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2000

Shackel, R. (2000). The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome: Does it have a Forensic Role? 25th International Congress on Law and Mental Health 2000, Siena, Italy: Presentation.

1999

Shackel, R. (1999). Regulation of Child Pornography in the Electronic Age: The Role of International Law. Macarthur Law Review, 1999 (3), 143-176.
Shackel, R. (1999). The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Review of International Legal Responses. Australian International Law Journal, 1999, 91-126.

1997

Shackel, R. (1997). Asian Yearbook of International Law [Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1993, xiv + 444 pages, ISBN 0-7923-1734-3, ISSN 0928-432X]. Australian International Law Journal, 1997, 234-239.
Woellner, R., Zetler, J., Shackel, R. (1997). Educational Malpractice: Recent Developments in Australia. 6th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association (ANZELA 1997), Australia: Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association.

Selected Grants

2023

The dignity by design project: survivor-led system redesign, Heward-Belle S, Cashmore J, Chung D, Shackel R, Phillips R, Luu B, The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse/Research

2018

Women defendants in domestic violence cases - addressing gender bias and systemic injustices, Shackel R, The American Association for University Women (AAUW)/International Project Grant

2017

Understanding and responding to the lived experiences of survivors of sexual violence, Shackel R, DVC Research/SOAR Fellowships

2016

Threshold decision-making in deciding whether to prosecute for child sexual assault, Cashmore J, Cashmore J, Shackel R, Goodman-Delahunty J, Powell M, Parkinson P, Cowdery N, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)

2014

Transformative Gender Justice: A Global Symposium, Shackel R, Lambourne W, Scanlon H, Boesten J, Fiske L, Angir C, Office of Global Engagement/IPDF Grant

2013

The impact of delayed reporting on the prosecution of child sexual assault cases and the outcomes, Cashmore J, Shackel R, Parkinson P, Attorney Generals Department/Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
Making Transitional Justice Work for Women: Rights, Resilience and Responses to Violence Against Women in Northern Uganda, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo, Shackel R, Lambourne W, Fiske L, Australian Aid/Australian Development Research Awards

2011

A multidisciplinary approach to reducing child sexual abuse in Sri Lanka, Weerakoon P, Shackel R, Australian Aid/Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships

2009

Measuring Access to Justice - A Comparative Study, Shackel R, Tilburg University/Research Support

2006

Understanding prosecutorial decision-making in child sexual assault cases, Shackel R, Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales/Donation

In the media

Lola Forester, Interview with Rita Shackel (“Blackchat” Koori Radio): Crisis Conditions in Specialist Domestic Violence Services (27 March 2017)
Penny Timms, Interview with Rita Shackel (ABC PM, 666 Canberra): Forced marriage and Syrian refugees (14 October 2015)
Michael Koziol, Interview with Rita Shackel (Sydney Morning Herald (National): Under Control: Should 14 Year-Olds Be Targeted By Terror Laws? (17 October 2015)
Chinese Daily New Express, Interview with Rita Shackel: Child Sexual Abuse in Schools (June 2015)
Interviewed by ABC Radio (Adelaide) Mornings with Stan Thomson: Royal Commission into child abuse - how will it work? (20 November 2012)
Interviewed by Radio Atticus on Radio 2SER: DNA Evidence in Criminal Trials (16 April 2010)

The University of Sydney Law School

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Professor Rita Shackel

Selected publications

Publications

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Selected Grants

2023

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2011

2009

2006

In the media

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