A new report into child protection may now offer some insight into why abusers are able to get away with their crimes.

The Taking Us Seriously report is based on in-depth interviews with 121 children, by researchers from the Australian Catholic University, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University. It concludes that children want adults to “take time to really listen to them”.

The report, funded by the royal commission into child sexual abuse, has warned that children’s instincts about “creepy” adults are too often ignored, according to The Australian newspaper.

“The Institute of Child Protection Studies report, to be launched today, says children believe adults downplay their ‘gut feelings’ about danger,” the newspaper reported.

“Kids identify ‘creepy adults’ as those who stare at them too long, touch them, are ‘weird’ or ‘get really close’. Generally, creepy adults were those who made children and young people feel uncomfortable,’’ the report says.

“When talking about coming across a ‘creepy teacher’, one group of young people commented they had raised their concerns with another teacher, who dismissed them because they could not identify concrete examples of things the teacher had done to make them feel that way.”

So how do we get it right? National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell has some suggestions.

Ms Mitchell said that schools, childcare centres and sporting clubs must do better background checks on workers to detect pedophiles.

She said institutions relied too much on police checks and “blue card’’ clearance to prove staff did not have a criminal record relating to child abuse.

Employers should also check references and listen to children’s “gut feelings’’ about adults, she said.

“Relying on a ‘working with children’ check is not enough where children’s safety is concerned,’’ she said.

“It doesn’t mean they haven’t abused a child or are suitable to work with children and won’t abuse a child — it might mean they just haven’t been caught.

“Pedophiles are very assiduous in seeking out opportunities to be around children and it’s more common than you’d … imagine.

“Don’t just rely on the reference given to you by an applicant — really do your homework.’’

Ms Mitchell also called for better national co-ordination of “working with children” checks, which vary by state and territory.

If we don’t want another royal commission we need to become better listeners and we need to do it fast.