Protecting Children is Everyone's Business
- Previous: Why we need to work together to protect Australia’s children
- Next: Implementing the National Framework
National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
- Supporting outcomes, strategies and indicators of change
- Principles to guide our actions
- Everyone has a role to play
- Supporting outcome 1: Children live in safe and supportive families and communities
- Supporting outcome 2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early
- Supporting outcome 3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed
- Supporting outcome 4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing
- Supporting outcome 5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
- Supporting outcome 6: Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support
The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 consists of high-level and supporting outcomes, strategies to be delivered through a series of three-year action plans and indicators of change that can be used to monitor the success of the National Framework.
The actions and strategies that governments and others will agree to take under this National Framework are all aimed to achieve the following high-level outcome:
Australia’s children and young people are safe and well.
As a measure of this outcome, governments and the non-government sector have set the following target:
A substantial and sustained reduction in child abuse and neglect in Australia over time.3
To demonstrate progress towards achieving the target the following measures have been identified:
- Trends in key national indicators of children’s health, development and wellbeing
- Trends in hospital admissions and emergency department visits for neglect and injuries to children under three years
- Trends in substantiated child protection cases
- Trends in the number of children in out-of-home care.
Supporting outcomes, strategies and indicators of change
The six supporting outcomes are:
- Children live in safe and supportive families and communities
- Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early
- Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed
- Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing
- Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support.
The supporting outcomes and strategies help to focus effort and actions under the National
Framework in order to reach the high-level outcome. Indicators of change are provided to
measure the extent to which governments and non-government organisations are achieving the supporting outcomes. Given the inherent difficulties in isolating the impact of specific actions
on broader social outcomes, a broad suite of indicators have been identified which, when viewed
collectively, will be reported annually and provide a basis for measuring progress over the life (12
years) of the National Framework.
Principles to guide our actions
Children have a right to be safe, valued and cared for. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Australia has a responsibility to protect children, provide the services necessary for them to develop and achieve positive outcomes, and enable them to participate in the wider community.
In line with Australia’s obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention, the National Framework is underpinned by the following principles:
- All children have a right to grow up in an environment free from neglect and abuse. Their best interests are paramount in all decisions affecting them.
- Children and their families have a right to participate in decisions affecting them.
- Improving the safety and wellbeing of children is a national priority.
- The safety and wellbeing of children is primarily the responsibility of their families, who should be supported by their communities and governments.
- Australian society values, supports and works in partnership with parents, families and others in fulfilling their caring responsibilities for children.
- Children’s rights are upheld by systems and institutions.
- Policies and interventions are evidence based.
The National Framework also recognises the importance of promoting the
wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people
and families across all outcome areas.
Everyone has a role to play
Under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, protecting children is everyone’s responsibility. Some of the key groups and their involvement in the National Framework are described below.
Parents and families care for and protect their children and engage in decision making that has an impact on them and their children.
Children and young people participate in decisions affecting them.
Communities support and protect all their members, and support families to raise their children, particularly vulnerable families.
Non-government organisations deliver services (including on behalf of governments), contribute to the development of policy, programs and the evidence base and actively promote child safety, protection, rights and wellbeing.
The business and corporate sector supports parents to raise their children through family-friendly policies. They may also support programs and initiatives to directly assist children and families, including direct financial assistance, pro bono activities of their staff and professional support to community organisations.
Local governments deliver a range of services to vulnerable families, including youth and family centres and local infrastructure, and play a pivotal role in engaging vulnerable children and their families in those services.
State and Territory governments deliver a range of universal services and early intervention initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect, and fund and coordinate many services by the non-government sector. They are responsible for the statutory child protection systems, including the support provided to children and young people in out-of-home care. Other responsibilities include:
- providing therapeutic and support services for families, children and young people at-risk of abuse or neglect
- conducting research into child protection
- delivering health and education services, including maternal and child health services, schools, and specialist services for at-risk children and young people and their families
- providing police and justice systems, including court services to hear child/youth care and protection matters.
The Australian Government delivers universal support and services to help families raise their children, along with a range of targeted early intervention services to families and children.4
The foundation of the Australian Government’s support is the provision of income and family support payments to provide both a broad social safety net and specifically support families in their parenting role. This includes pensions, family payments, childcare benefit and tax rebates. The Australian Government provides a range of services available for all Australian families such as Medicare, employment services, child and parenting support services, family relationship services and the family law system. In addition, the Australian Government provides support for key services through the States and Territories such as hospitals, schools, housing and disability services.
The Australian Government also offers more targeted services for vulnerable individuals and
families, including mental health, substance abuse, intensive parenting services, intensive
employment assistance, and allowances for young people leaving care to help with the
transition to independent living. The Australian Government also funds and delivers a range of
services for families at higher risk of disadvantage including those in Indigenous communities.
Supporting outcome 1: Children live in safe and supportive families and communities
Communities are child-friendly. Families care for children, value their wellbeing and participation and are supported in their caring role.
Reducing vulnerability of families and protecting children from abuse and neglect begins with developing a shared understanding of and responsibility for tackling the problem of child abuse and neglect.
Businesses and the broader community can play a part in supporting families through child and family-friendly policies and practices. It is important to educate and engage the community to influence attitudes and beliefs about abuse and neglect but also more broadly about children and their needs. Informing communities about parenting and children’s development can also promote understanding about the ways in which community members can better support families.
Upholding children’s right to participate in decisions that affect them is a key signal of valuing and supporting children. In the context of child welfare, this is particularly relevant in judicial proceedings in care and protection, juvenile justice and family court matters, and in child protection and out-of-home care services.
| Strategies | Initial 3-year actions | Delivery | Indicators of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Strengthen the capacity of families to support children | Continue to establish and support family
and children’s centres such as: - Child and Family Centres (ACT) - Early Years Service Centres (QLD) - Children’s Centres (SA) - 30 Child and Family Centres (TAS) - Early Learning and Care Centres (WA) - 46 Children’s Services Hubs (VIC) |
Ongoing
States & Territories |
|
| Combine and refocus community programs within the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to enhance support for families and parenting | 2009-10
Commonwealth |
||
| Continue to improve family support services
such as: - bringing together secondary services consistent with WA’s Strategic Framework for Supporting Individuals and Families At-risk |
Ongoing
All jurisdictions |
||
| 1.2 Educate and engage the community about child abuse and neglect and strategies for protecting children | Support community organisations to deliver cost-effective, community-based initiatives, including information and awareness campaigns, for example funding for National Child Protection Week and a survey of community attitudes to protecting children | Ongoing
Commonwealth with NAPCAN |
|
| 1.3 Develop and implement effective mechanisms for involving children and young people in decisions affecting their lives | Explore the potential role for a National Children’s Commissioner including the relationship with State and TerritoryChildren’s Commissioners | Advice to Government in late 2009
Commonwealth in consultation with States & Territories |
|
| Identify and implement approaches through the Supporting Children After Separation Program, to assist children from separating families to deal with issues arising from the breakdown of their parents’ relationship and to participate in decisions that affect them | Ongoing
Commonwealth |
||
| Finalise, print and distribute an information booklet for children entering foster care | 2009
Commonwealth with the Australian Children’s Foundation |
||
| Continue to improve the experience of court
processes for children, such as:
- Victoria’s work with court stakeholders to improve practices and processes in state and federal jurisdictions involved with children |
Ongoing
States & Territories |
||
| Support participation of children in decision
making such as:
- Models developed by the SA Guardian for Children and Young Persons |
Ongoing States & Territories |
Supporting outcome 2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early
All children and families receive appropriate support and services to create the conditions for safety and care. When required, early intervention and specialist services are available to meet additional needs of vulnerable families, to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.
The basic assumption of a public health approach to protecting children is that by providing the right services at the right time vulnerable families can be supported, child abuse and neglect can be prevented, and the effects of trauma and harm can be reduced.
Providing the right supports at the right time will also ultimately reduce demand on State and Territory child protection systems, allowing them to improve their capacity to perform specific statutory functions and better support children at-risk.
National and international research shows that:
- families have strengths that can be built upon to keep children safe and well
- families may require advice and support, particularly in times of change
- provision of services early in a child’s life and/or early in the life of a problem can improve longterm outcomes for children and reduce negative impacts
- a focus on early intervention and prevention is more cost-effective in the long term than responding to crises, or treating the impacts of abuse and neglect (Stronger Families Learning Exchange 2002).
Disadvantage and vulnerability can be concentrated in particular communities. Evidence from Australia (such as implications from the national evaluation of the Stronger Families and Community Strategy) suggests that area-based interventions can have positive impacts on vulnerable children and families. Effective elements include:
- an explicit focus on the coordination and collaboration of services by one organisation that is given responsibility and resources to be a leader in this area in the community
- increased service provision and capacity to work with families previously disengaged from early childhood services and those from groups traditionally considered ‘hard to reach’.
| Strategies | Initial 3-year actions | Delivery | Indicators of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Implement an integrated approach to service design, planning and delivery for children and families across the lifecycle and spectrum of need | Expand the Communities for Children
program to:
- realign existing sites to enhance integration and target the most disadvantaged communities |
Realign existing sites 2009-10. New sites established by July 2010
Commonwealth in partnership with States & Territories and NGOs |
|
| Implement integrated and co-located child
and family service models including:
- 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres
(Commonwealth) |
Ongoing
All jurisdictions and NGOs |
||
| 2.2 Develop new information sharing provisions between Commonwealth agencies, State and Territory agencies and NGOs dealing with vulnerable families | Develop a nationally consistent approach to working with children checks and child safe organisations across jurisdictions | In place by December 2009
All jurisdictions |
|
| Extend the national protocol for sharing information on children at-risk to other Commonwealth agencies starting with Medicare Australia and the Child Support Agency | 2009-10 Commonwealth in partnership with States & Territories |
||
| Investigate options for improving information sharing between NGOs and government agencies in secondary prevention through the Common Approach to Assessment, Referral and Support Taskforce (see 3.5) | Options by December 2009
Commonwealth and ARACY in partnership with States & Territories and NGOs |
||
| 2.3 Ensure consistency of support and services for all children and families | Implement a national approach to early
childhood education and care including:
- universal access to quality early childhood
education and care in the year prior to
schooling by 2013 |
Ongoing
Through the COAG Early Childhood Agenda |
|
| Support the development of quality assurance processes for registered community based child and family services; and out-of-home care services, such as the Victorian model | States & Territories | ||
| Enhance national consistency in child and
family health services through:
- progressing the development of a
national framework for child and family
health services through the Australian
Health Ministers’ Conference |
2009-11
All jurisdictions |
||
| Implement the National Perinatal Depression Plan including a national universal screening program | Commonwealth | ||
| Increase funding for disadvantaged schools with a focus on improving student wellbeing | Ongoing
Through the Low SES School Communities National Partnership |
||
| 2.4 Enhance services and supports for children and families to target the most vulnerable and protect children ‘at-risk’ | Refocus services under the
Commonwealth’s Family Support Program
to target vulnerable families and children at-risk |
From 2009-10
Commonwealth |
|
| Expand and/or target State and Territory
family support programs for vulnerable
families and children at-risk such as:
- Victoria’s continued roll-out of Child FIRST |
Ongoing
States & Territories |
||
| Evaluate income management trials in WA, NT and Cape York | 2009-10
Commonwealth in consultation with relevant jurisdictions |
||
| Comprehensive evaluation of family law
reforms designed to strengthen family
relationships, including:
- research into the characteristics of shared
care parenting arrangements that work in
the best interests of the child |
Findings by end of 2009
Commonwealth |
||
| Expand access to mental health programs
for children including:
- funding for Headspace (the National
Youth Mental Health Foundation) |
2009-10 to 2012-13
Commonwealth |
||
| 2.5 Provide priority access to services for children who are at serious risk of abuse and neglect | Enhance access to childcare services for children at serious risk of harm by increasing awareness and availability of services and supports in the childcare sector, organisations working with vulnerable children and child protection agencies | From July 2009
Commonwealth |
|
Develop alternative pathways for children who are at serious risk and those at lower risk, including: - establishment of Child Wellbeing Units in
a range of NSW government agencies |
Ongoing
States & Territories |
Supporting outcome 3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed
Major parental risk factors that are associated with child abuse and neglect are addressed in individuals and reduced in communities. A particular focus is sustained on key risk factors of mental health, domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
Key to preventing child abuse and neglect is addressing the known risk factors. Many of the factors that research has shown to be associated with abuse and neglect are behaviours or characteristics of parents, which can then be the target of both population-based strategies and specific interventions.
The problems most commonly associated with the occurrence of child abuse and neglect and identified in families involved with child protection services are:
- domestic violence
- parental alcohol and drug abuse
- parental mental health problems
Often, families in which parents experience these problems face broader challenges of exclusion and disadvantage (Allen Consulting Group 2003; Leek, Seneque & Ward 2004; Wood 2008). Other known risk factors for abuse and neglect include:
- poverty and social isolation
- unstable family accommodation and homelessness
- poor child and maternal health
- childhood disability, mental health and/or behavioural problems
- young people disconnected from their families, schools and communities
- past experiences of trauma (Fleming, Mullen, & Bammer 1997; Frederick & Goddard 2007; National Child Protection Clearinghouse 2008).
Many families also experience more than one of these risk factors (Jeffreys, Hirte, Rogers & Wilson 2009; Wood 2008).
Adult treatment or support services — particularly those addressing domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health issues, as well as housing, gambling, disability, employment and income support services — need to be more child-focused, and responsive to the needs of families (Scott 2009).
These factors can also be the longer-term outcomes for children who have suffered abuse and neglect, contributing to intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Disadvantage can be concentrated in neighbourhoods or geographic areas. Efforts to build and strengthen communities and address economic and social disadvantage are important elements in an overall approach to ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing.
Supporting outcome 4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing
Children and young people who have been abused (or are at-risk of abuse) receive timely, appropriate, high-quality child protection and other support services to secure their safety and promote their long-term wellbeing.
Efforts to reduce the occurrence of child abuse and neglect are important. It is equally important that those children who have experienced abuse and neglect are provided high-quality services and interventions, as they are among the most vulnerable in our community.
To secure children’s safety and wellbeing in the short and long term they need high-quality child protection services that are evidence based, child-focused, attend to children’s developmental needs and help children to overcome the effects of trauma, abuse and neglect (Bromfield 2008). There is a need for further research and evaluation to ensure that services and interventions provided actually work to improve outcomes for children and families (Bromfield & Arney 2008).
Out-of-home care is viewed as an intervention of last resort, and the preference is always for children to be reunited with their natural parents if possible. Many children can be safely reunited with their families when their families receive appropriate supports and interventions. Research highlights the need for children to have stable and secure placements, whether that be with their natural parents or in out-of-home care. The quality of relationships with carers is also critical. A sense of security, stability, continuity and social support are strong predictors of better outcomes for young people’s long-term outcomes after leaving care (Cashmore & Paxman 2006).
Young people leaving care are at great risk of experiencing negative life outcomes (Bromfield & Osborn 2007). Care leavers can be better supported if they are equipped with improved employment and independent living skills and more social and emotional skills while in care, and the state continues to act as a ‘good’ parent in the first few years after they leave care (Cashmore & Paxman 1996; Maunders, Liddell, Liddell, & Green 1999; Mendes & Moslehuddin 2006).
While the need for foster carers has been rising, there has been some evidence of decreasing numbers of individuals willing to foster (McHugh 2002; Siminski, Chalmers & McHugh 2005). The attraction and retention of an appropriately skilled and qualified workforce – including statutory and non-government service workers, as well as voluntary carers – is a high priority.
| Strategies | Initial 3-year actions | Delivery | Indicators of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Enhance access to appropriate support services for recovery where abuse or neglect has occurred | Target the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program where appropriate for people who have experienced abuse or neglect | 2009-10
Commonwealth |
|
| Support community-based recovery programs for people who have experienced abuse or neglect such as, Adults Surviving child Abuse (ASCA) therapy programs for survivors of childhood abuse | 2009
Commonwealth |
||
| 4.2 Support grandparent, foster and kinship carers to provide safe and stable care | Provide specialist supported playgroups for grandparent and kinship carers to enhance peer support and provide developmental opportunities | From 2009-10
Commonwealth |
|
| Continue to explore options through
CDSMAC working group for improving
financial and non-financial support to
grandparent, kinship and foster carers such
as:
- SA’s Time for Kids grandparent respite and
support |
2009-10
All jurisdictions |
||
| Increase the focus of support and services available for grandparent and kinship carers through Indigenous Child and Family Centres | From 2009-10
Commonwealth |
||
| Support programs for grandparent, kinship
and foster carers, such as:
- Victoria’s implementation of the new
Kinship Care program model |
Ongoing States & Territories |
||
| Continue to explore options through the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference in relation to the healthcare needs of children entering and in out-of-home care | Report by end of 2009
All jurisdictions |
||
| Enhanced support for grandparent and kinship carers as a specified target group under the Communities for Children program | 2009-10
Commonwealth |
||
| 4.3 Improve support for young people leaving care | Increase support through NGOs for young people leaving care to establish their independence | Ongoing from July 2009
Commonwealth in partnership with NGOs |
|
| Continue and improve State and Territory
initiatives targeting young people as they
leave care, such as:
- NT’s Leaving Care options package |
Ongoing
States & Territories |
||
| Implement policy of ‘no exits into homelessness’ from statutory care | Ongoing
Through the National Partnership on Homelessness |
||
| 4.4 Support enhanced national consistency and continuous improvement in child protection services | Develop and introduce ambitious National
Standards for Out-of-home Care which:
- focus on key areas that directly impact on
the outcomes and experiences of children
and young people in out-of-home care |
To CDSMC for approval by June 2010 Commonwealth, States & Territories in collaboration |
|
| Support child protection services to
maintain continuous improvement, such as:
- SA’s reshaping of the child protection
system towards relationship based practice |
Ongoing States & Territories |
||
| Support the Australian New Zealand Child Death Review Committee to develop more consistent data to help better understand the circumstances of child deaths and how these could be prevented | By 2010
Commonwealth to lead in partnership with States & Territories |
||
| Improve our understanding of children in
the child protection and care system by:
- developing and implementing a system for
the collection and analysis of confidential
unit record data across homelessness,
juvenile justice and child protection records |
By 2011
Commonwealth to lead in partnership with States & Territories |
||
| Support a National Research Agenda for Child Protection | 2009-10 to 2013-14
Commonwealth to lead in partnership with States & Territories |
Supporting outcome 5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
Indigenous children are supported and safe in strong, thriving families and communities to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children in child protection systems. For those Indigenous children in child protection systems, culturally appropriate care and support is provided to enhance their wellbeing.
Preventing child abuse and neglect and improving responses to those children who have experienced maltreatment are priorities for all Australian children. However, those who are particularly disadvantaged require additional responses. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are significantly over-represented in all parts of the child protection system.
Indigenous communities experience intergenerational cycles of adversity and trauma, leading to entrenched social problems including poverty, high levels of violence, psychological distress, destructive behaviours, and individual, family and community dysfunction. These problems are also associated with heightened rates of abuse and neglect (Atkinson 2002; Berlyn & Bromfield 2009; Robertson 2000). Addressing Indigenous disadvantage is critical to addressing the factors that put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at risk of abuse and neglect.
Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by addressing disadvantage (for example, overcrowded and inadequate housing); recognising and promoting family, community and cultural strengths that protect children; and developing community-wide strategies to address specific risk factors where they occur in high concentration, such as alcohol misuse and family violence. It is critical that approaches to address Indigenous disadvantage and the underlying causes of abuse and neglect are holistic and culturally sensitive, and empower families and communities to develop and take responsibility for community-identified solutions (Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce 2006; Anderson & Wild 2007; Atkinson 2002; Gordon, Hallahan & Henry 2002; Robertson 2000; Silburn, et al. 2006).
The best interests and safety of a child are paramount. Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children cannot remain safely in the care of their parents or community, timely and culturally appropriate responses for their care, protection and nurture are needed.
Maintaining connection to family, community and culture is essential within a framework that respects the physical, mental and emotional security of the child. This is particularly important in light of the historical experiences that Aboriginal families have had with child protection agencies.
In order to provide culturally appropriate responses, strategies developed under the National Framework need to be based on partnerships between Indigenous families and communities, and between Indigenous agencies, mainstream service providers and governments. Strategies should build on existing strengths, match expectations with appropriate supports, and recognise the importance of Indigenous-led and managed solutions (Higgins 2005).
| Strategies | Initial 3-year actions | Delivery | Indicators of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 Expand access to Indigenous and mainstream services for families and children | Expand Indigenous Parenting Support Services to additional sites | Commence
2009-10
Complete by
2011
Commonwealth |
|
| Link 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres
with the range of family and community
programs for at-risk children Improve access to child and maternal health services for Indigenous families |
By 2011
Through COAG Indigenous Early Childhood Development Partnership | ||
| Support SNAICC to develop resources and materials to support and promote child and family services within Indigenous communities | Over 3 years to 2011
Commonwealth | ||
| Continue to focus new activities in the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Program and Indigenous Family Violence Regional Activities Program on child protection issues | Ongoing
Commonwealth | ||
| 5.2 Promote the development of safe and strong Indigenous communities | Ongoing support and strengthening of the
Northern Territory Emergency Response
including:
- the Family Support Package which
provides Remote Aboriginal Family
and Community workers, Mobile Child
Protection Team and 22 safe houses in the
Northern Territory |
Ongoing
Commonwealth | |
| Continued support for Indigenous
community building activities, such as:
- the Aboriginal Life Story Book to provide
Aboriginal children and young people
with opportunities to explore their culture
and develop a sense of connectedness to
family, kin and community (NSW) |
Ongoing
All jurisdictions | ||
| 5.3 Ensure that Indigenous children receive culturally appropriate protection services and care | Develop and expand the Indigenous
child protection and welfare workforce,
including:
- fostering Aboriginal controlled services to deliver support to Aboriginal families (NT) |
Ongoing
States & Territories | |
| Improve child protection service delivery for
Indigenous families and children:
- working with Aboriginal organisations to
increase capacity and play an enhanced
role in out-of-home care and other service
options (NSW & SA) |
Ongoing
States & Territories | ||
| Strengthen the application of, and compliance with, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle | Ongoing
States & Territories |
Supporting outcome 6: Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support
Children are protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse through targeted prevention strategies, and survivors are supported by the community, and through specific therapeutic and legal responses.
Strategies and services designed to support vulnerable families are important in preventing maltreatment – especially neglect, emotional and physical abuse. However, child sexual abuse may require a different response.
Perpetrators may come from inside or outside the family. Sexual abuse can also occur in a range of settings, including the family home, friendship networks, schools, churches, community organisations, and online. Legal responses to sexual abuse require the involvement of police and criminal justice processes alongside child protection services; family law processes may also be underway (Higgins 2007).
It is estimated that fewer than 30 per cent of all sexual assaults on children are reported and that the reporting rate is even lower for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (Stanley, Tomison & Pocock 2003). Sexual abuse specific strategies are needed both to increase detection of child sexual abuse, and to prevent child sexual abuse across a range of settings.
The vast majority of child sexual abuse perpetrators are family members or someone well known to the child or young person (Healey 2003). There is also increased reporting of children and young people with sexually abusive behaviours and of sibling sexual abuse (Neave, Friedman, Langan, & Little 2004). Risk factors for child sexual abuse are exposure to family violence, other types of abuse and neglect, pornography, highly sexualised environments and inadequate supervision (Boyd & Bromfield 2006; Irenyi, Bromfield, Beyer & Higgins 2006).
Raising awareness and knowledge in children and the broader community about risks can foster protective behaviours and may help to increase detection of abuse. The importance of educating young people about healthy relationships is increasingly being recognised. Raising awareness about the role of the internet as a mechanism for the sexual abuse or exploitation of children and young people is also a central focus. Organisations, businesses and institutions can also play an important role in protecting children through the development of policies and procedures to create child-safe organisations (Boyd & Bromfield 2006; Irenyi et al. 2006).
| Strategies | Initial 3-year actions | Delivery | Indicators of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 Raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online exploitation | Implement cyber-safety initiatives
including:
- education and filtering including search
warning mechanisms (Commonwealth) |
Ongoing
All jurisdictions |
|
| Increase support for community-based strategies to raise awareness in children, families and the community about child sexual abuse, such as Braveheart’s White Balloon Day | May – July 2009
Commonwealth | ||
| Continue to introduce strategies to prevent
sexual exploitation, such as:
- through a new statutory pathway,
intervene earlier with young people who
exhibit sexually abusive behaviour to help
prevent ongoing and more serious sexual
offences (VIC) |
Ongoing
States & Territories | ||
| 6.2 Enhance prevention strategies for child sexual abuse | Implement a national framework for inter-jurisdictional exchange of criminal history for people working with children | Trial to conclude December 2009 with Implementation to follow
Through the COAG Exchange of Criminal History Information About People Working with Children Project Implementation Committee | |
| Investigate best practice therapeutic
programs for children displaying sexually
abusive behaviours, such as:
- collaboration between government
agencies and therapeutic treatment
service providers to build a state-wide
therapeutic treatment service system to
implement the relevant provisions of the
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (VIC) |
From July 2009
States & Territories with Commonwealth support for research | ||
| 6.3 Strengthen law enforcement and judicial processes in response to child sexual abuse and exploitation | Extend work in the detection, investigation and prosecution of online sexual exploitation | By 2011-12
Commonwealth | |
| 6.4 Ensure survivors of sexual abuse have access to effective treatment and appropriate support | Support workshops for adult survivors of sexual abuse, parents and spouses | 2009
Commonwealth with Heartfelt House | |
| Review service delivery options and approaches for survivors to align with best practice such as WA’s expanded network of Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Services | Ongoing
States & Territories |
- It is acknowledged that measuring a reduction in child abuse and neglect is difficult, as Australia currently does not have robust data on incidence/prevalence. Even if such data existed, it may not be sensitive to change over a short period.
- Families include foster, grandparent and kinship families.
- Previous: Why we need to work together to protect Australia’s children
- Next: Implementing the National Framework
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