iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Our new Australian grassroots sport and safeguarding study: To what extent do sport volunteers (the cornerstone of sport) have the skills, support and motivations to recognise and respond to abuse against young people in sport? Link to study below 👇🏻 #safeguarding #safesport

Title slide new research survey of 218 community sport volunteers reveals high motivation to respond to abuse but critical capability and support gals remain

20% of volunteers may not believe a disclosure

98% agree reporting child abuse is important. Only 37% believe the current system for reporting are effective

1in3 lack policies for receiving disclosures.
1 in 5 fear concequences for raising concerns about abuse.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

I don't know if there's any AuDHDer that gave everything in their application for the #DECRA 27 & have been in an ongoing crash since submitting, but if you are, I'm right there with you. It's disabling. Today I'm exec functioning/ energy spoons are in the dishwasher.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I didn't want to give the piece platforming Uta Frith more visibility, but since it's already widely circulating, as a researcher and as a late diagnosed autistic woman, I think I do have to speak up on Uta Frith's recent views on #austism featured in the tes magazine.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

You know what's a sign of people caring about safer sport for young people: talking about it and acting on it when there's no major sporting events highlighting the problem.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Help - SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS: Any recommendation for a software for academic research that is both trustworthy for data privacy as well as user-friendly (for me ha) and for collaborative mapping projects with research participants? #networkanalysis #socialnetwork

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Open letter to fellow Victorians, from a current #VicHealth Early Career Research fellow (me). Dear Victorians, please help #savevichealth ... Sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/keep-viche... SHARE the petition. Follow Friends of VicHealth on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/frie...

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

"VicHealth folding doesn’t just harm Victoria, it dismantles a global template for how to get health promotion right." www.croakey.org/shock-and-al...

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Today is the last day of the Future Fellowship that I’ve been doing for the last five years. If any of the work we’ve done in thinking about queer in Indigenous lives, creativity, the colonial project of gender and everything else has had an impact on your work or life I’d love to hear from you.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Does anyone on this platform know of research that has attempted to evaluate the contribution of #criticaltheory in achieving its goal of liberation and emancipation?

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

It was my first sociology conference, and I think what I liked most about #TASA2025 was learning how diverse social science scholars integrate natural sciences literature and interpret it from social theory perspectives, e.g. sessions on youth and health.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Phrase of the year at #TASA2025 is reimagining futures. Everyone is reimagining.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

7yrs ago (18 Nov 2018) on World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Se*ual Exploitation, Abuse, & Violence, I made the decision to publicly share my story. Speaking out was a 1st critical step in beginning to reclaim my voice. There's been progress but we can't step back. #endchildabuse

Most survivors/ people with lived experience of abuse in sport who work in this space do so because we've experienced both the best and the worst of sport. Our individual stories are complex and nuanced. We research, advocate, and speak up so that every young person can participate in sport free from harm.

When powerful and respected individuals within the sporting institution, publicly mock headlines that, after decades of silence, finally report on abuse (even if poorly), it doesn't just undermine the issue, it directly dismisses the suffering of many. It also reinforces the power of those within the system who've spent years minimising and denying our experiences.

When multiple survivors tell you that your narrative minimises the harm experienced by so many in sport, it's not for you to decide that it does not. When survivors and critical scholars researching the topic of violence against young people in sport share feedback, please consider them and reflect on the impact of your practices going forward.

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Prof Samantha Thomas @docsamantha.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

“Over a dozen Labor MPs, including senior figures in the party, have told ABC Investigations they want action on gambling reform.” www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

abc.net.au

'Broad, unspoken consensus': silent Labor MPs want action on gambling

Andrew Wilkie has asked the PM to allow a free vote on banning gambling advertising and it appears many Labor MPs would support it.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

For the critical sport scholars - this includes an examination of women's view on sport betting/ gambling 👇🏻

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

In loving memory of Virginia Giuffre - solidarity with all victims and survivors of these two men, and all those impacted by institutional decisions and silence. #safesport #princeandrew #volleyball #beachvolleyballl #adelaide2025

The British Royal Family revoked Prince Andrew's title and residence after victims came forward detailing his role in their sexual abuse and exploitation as adolescent girls. Yet, the International Volleyball Federation and the Dutch Volleyball Association are allowing Van de Velde a convicted child rapist to represent his country on the world stage, met with silence from leading Australian Sport organisations. Never thought say it, but the monarchy seems more decisive on child sexual abuse than sport.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Please sign this petition + share "We call on the Australian Government and the Minister for Home Affairs to deny entry to convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde ahead of the Volleyball World Championships [...]." SIGN HERE bit.ly/4nLpTSN

bit.ly

Sign the Petition

Ban Convicted Child Rapist Steven van de Velde from the 2025 Volleyball World Championship

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Calling all national/ international child abuse/ neglect academic/ professional associations to publicly denounce the inactions of politicians on the ongoing+livestreamed genocide of the Palestinian people. Not speaking up is being complicit. Please share/like to support.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Today's news could be very hard for many institutional child abuse survivors around the world and I want to share my support to the survivors of the Catholic Church/ other religious organizations. 1/ #csa #childabuse #catholicchurch #popeLeo #survivor #OlympicGames #abuseinsport

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

🌟 Invitation: Lived Experience Advisory Committee of people who've experienced child abuse in sport in Australia - Expression of Interest 🌟 APPLY HERE: vuau.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #childabuse #abuseinsport #safesport #CSA #CSAsurvivors #survivors #violenceprevention #childmaltreatment

Join an advisory committee of people with lived experience of child abuse in sport for a research project.Have you experienced child abuse when playing sport in Australia? Would you like to assist in making community sport safer and more inclusive?Victoria University researchers and the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse would like to collaborate with those who've experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse in sport as a child/ adolescent to better respond to and protect today's youth in community sport. Participation is financially compensated.People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to participate.People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to participate.Consult the Expression Of Interest, or,Contact Dr Aurélie Pankowiak (researcher with lived experience): aurelie.pankowiak@vu.edu.auVictoria University Research Ethics Project HRE24-173

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

The SafeSport Illusion @safesportillu.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

13-year-old boy murdered by his soccer coach. The coach had prior allegations of sexually assaulting a child. How did this happen? Did SafeSport and U.S. Soccer know about the allegations before he murdered a child? www.latimes.com/california/s...

latimes.com

Youth soccer coach charged with murder in death of 13-year-old boy

The youth soccer coach who was charged in a 13-year-old’s death has also been arrested on suspicion of a separate 2024 sexual assault.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Excited to announce new research funding partnership with the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse for a collaborative project with people with lived experience of child abuse in sport, to improve the community sport sector response to child abuse. #childabuse #abuseinsport #safesport

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Here's some behind the scene of our project examining how the Australian sport integrity system does/ doesn't respond to gender based violence in sport. You can follow more of my work and advocacy on my insta! www.instagram.com/sportsurvivo... #safesport #abuseinsport #gbv #genderbasedviolence

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

A kind reminder to those researching violence and discrimination (researchers and research funding bodies) - when asking people to join your research project so that they share their experiences of discrimination, abuse and violence, you absolutely need to financially compensate these people. 1/2

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

In light of yesterday's horrendous comments against the Matildas and all women and girls in sport, I'm just going to post one photo. Dear Marty, any year 10 girl has more morals than you do. #womensport #misogyny #matildas

Photo of Siren's pin "The Biggest Threat to Women's Sport is the patriarchy" written with the colors of the transgender flag (pink white and blue) on a lanyard with the LGBTQ rainbow.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

The intense scrutiny over Sam Kerr's future in sport and its implications for player leadership—compared to the far less critical attention given to men who have actually been abusive toward women and young people in sport—is baffling.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Mental health is not the absence of so called mental 'disorders'. We need a neurodiversity paradigm shift. This has been advocated for a long time and by many before me.

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I just created a Starter Pack specifically listing researchers and academics working on prevention and response to any form of child abuse and neglect (globally). Please share, promote your colleagues and promote yourself by tagging below (and I will update the list). #childabuse go.bsky.app/kNPvuk

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

This nuanced and critical analysis of Gisèle Pelicot's heroic status was much needed in the middle of a very overwhelming media coverage. Thanks @rokhayadiallo.bsky.social for this. #GiselePelicot 1/ amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theg...

amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org

France now sees Gisèle Pelicot as a hero – but old myths about rape are harder to change | France | The Guardian

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Sending my support to the boys, their families & anyone affected. "Connor John Christopher Lyons, 26, was arrested by police on Sunday and charged with 12 counts of indecent treatment of children and three counts of wilful exposure." #childabuse #abuseinsport www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

abc.net.au

Surfing coach accused of indecent treatment of two children

A 26-year-old man has been charged with 12 counts of indecent treatment of children and three counts of wilful exposure in incidents police allege happened on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

"The man is a life member of the sporting organisations". Thinking about the victim-survivors and their loved ones. #sportsurvivor #abuseinsport #childabuse amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.abc....

amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org

Former Sunshine Coast sports administrator and coach facing historical child sex abuse charges - ABC News

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Very much looking forward to Mary presenting our work. This specific research focused on developing and evaluating the effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention designed to enhance volunteers’ ability to respond to diverse forms of child abuse in sport. #safesport #childabuse

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

#CSA #Childsexualabuse A new, very concerning story about J.Silbury currently coaching @ Cheltenham Youth Club in Melbourne dropped this morning. Silbury is coaching despite a) him being fired from MLCGym Club for being accused of sexually abusing teenage girls 1/ www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11...

abc.net.au

Gymnastics coach who withdrew from Paris Olympics was previously fired by Melbourne club

A gymnastics coach who quit the Australian Olympic team after the ABC revealed he allegedly harassed a former colleague is now being accused of making sexual comments to his former teenage athletes.

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Celeste Headlee @celesteheadlee.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Just to drive home the point: Research into misinformation strongly suggests that you do not repeat lies, even to debunk them. Don't quote tweet or screenshot lies. Paraphrase or say someone said something false or objectionable, but repeating lies helps to spread them.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

We had a #friendsgiving dinner last night and we aren't recovering very well today. #dogsofbluesky #skydogs

Two long hair dapple dachshunds on a couch, one on top of the other. One is in a seated position with a silly face and the other one is under blankets with her snoot popping out.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

#droitsdesenfants Je commente en tant que victime de violences sexuelles, perpétrées par mon entraîneur de basket (30 ans à l'époque) quand j'avais entre 15 et 18 ans, pour démontrer la limite de la loi sur l'attestation d'honorabilité et l'importance de développer d'autres mesures de prévention 1/

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Our team's work on #childabuse prevention in sport will be featured in Mary's newsletter ✊🏼👇🏼

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 22/11/2024

Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for education secretary, has been accused in a lawsuit of failing to stop a ringside announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment from grooming and sexually abusing children in the 1980s and 1990s.

nytimes.com

Linda McMahon, Trump’s Education Secretary Pick, Named in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Linda McMahon, who ran World Wrestling Entertainment for decades, was accused in the lawsuit of not preventing one of the organization’s employees from victimizing children who helped set up wrestling...

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Michael Salter @mike-salter.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Do you work in the sexual assault sector or provide support to survivors of child sexual abuse? We want to hear about your experiences with survivors of online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Pls fill out this brief survey! (Just for Australians) unsw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

unsw.au1.qualtrics.com

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

The former coach of the Australian Men's Rugby Team, Alan Jones (an inductee in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame), has been charged with multiple counts of assault & sexual abuse. The charges involve 9 men, 1 of whom was a boy at the time. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...

abcnews.go.com

Former Sydney radio broadcaster and rugby coach Alan Jones charged with sex crimes

Retired Sydney radio broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones has been charged with multiple sex crimes against males over two decades

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Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD @aureliepanko.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I appreciate those who have been posting today about #InternationalMensDay with a specific focus on male survivors of child sexual abuse #CSA because enhancing their voices, healing and justice is a key part in advancing towards equity for women, girls and gender diverse people

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Emma Sherry @emmasherry.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Again, totally not sure if I'm doing this right! Here's a starter pack of Australian and Kiwi sport researchers - shout out below if you would like me to add you or others to the list as they start to pop up here go.bsky.app/5sv3gYP

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Johanna Mellis @johannamellis.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

“Inclusion requires listening, collaboration, and a commitment to designing spaces that support all people without placing additional burdens on those with unique needs. For autistic people, this means considering our sensory, social, and emotional needs as fundamental.”

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Reposted by Aurélie Pankowiak, PhD

Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Lots of updates. go.bsky.app/DBrXiQV

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