Glossary of terms

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the first inhabitants of Australia. Aboriginal peoples comprise diverse Aboriginal nations, each with their own languages and traditions, and have historically lived on mainland Australia, Lutruwita (Tasmania) and many of the continent’s offshore islands. Torres Strait Islander peoples come from the islands of the Torres Strait, between the tip of Cape York in Queensland and Papua New Guinea.ⁱ

i – Australian Human Rights Commission. Questions and Answers about Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 2005, Accessed: 8 April 2024.

Section 473.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) defines child abuse material as: ‘material that depicts or describes a child, or a representation of a child, who is or appears to be under the age of 18, and who is or appears to be in a sexual pose or sexual activity, or that shows or describes the person’s sexual organs or breasts as a dominant characteristic’. This definition also includes material that depicts or describes a child, or a representation of a child, as a victim of torture, cruelty or physical abuse. The term ‘child pornography’, and others like it, are not used. They are inaccurate and harmful. The word ‘pornography’ is usually used to describe content depicting consenting adults engaging in lawful activity. In most cases, children and young people cannot lawfully consent to these activities, and child abuse material depicts criminal activities. Child abuse material may be used to normalise abuse with children and young people. Framing child sexual abuse materials as ‘pornography’ may also make it easier for perpetrators to disconnect from the child or young person. This can mean adults see children and young people as willing participants or actors in pieces of acceptable media content, rather than as victims. 

Child maltreatment refers to physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and experience of or exposure to domestic and family violence.

We use the Royal Commission’s definition of child sexual abuse, which is: ‘any act that exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual processes that are beyond their understanding, are contrary to accepted community standards, or are outside what is permitted by law’.

Child sexual abuse material is generally defined as material that depicts a child, or a representation of a child, in a sexual or offensive context, or as the subject of torture, cruelty or abuse. The term ‘child pornography’, and others like it, is not used. It is inaccurate and harmful. The word ‘pornography’ is usually used to describe content depicting consenting adults engaging in lawful activity. In most cases, children and young people cannot lawfully consent to these activities, and child sexual abuse material depicts criminal activities. Child sexual abuse material may be used to ‘normalise’ abuse with children and young people. Framing child sexual abuse materials as ‘pornography’ may also make it easier for perpetrators to disconnect from the child or young person. This can mean adults see children and young people as willing participants or actors in pieces of acceptable media content, rather than as victims.

A term commonly used to describe forms of child sexual abuse where a person has engaged in sexual activity with a child or young person, where there has been physical contact or intent of contact. In most jurisdictions in Australia, a child or young person cannot consent to sex if they are under 16 years of age (in South Australia and Tasmania, the age of consent is 17 years).ⁱⁱⁱ

iii – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Sexual assault in focus. 2020, AIHW: Canberra.

People under the age of 18 years.

Children with harmful sexual behaviours are children or young people under 18 years old who have behaviours that fall across a range of sexual behaviour problems. These include behaviours that are problematic to the child’s own development, as well as those that are coercive, sexually aggressive or predatory towards others. 

The term ‘harmful sexual behaviours’ recognises the seriousness of these behaviours and the significant impact they can have on the child or any victims and survivors. It also recognises that the age or capacity of a child who displays harmful sexual behaviours does not determine the harm those behaviours can cause to victims and survivors.

Terms such as ‘child paedophile’ or ‘child perpetrator’ are not accurate. They are harmful and cause stigma. We do not use them in the National Strategy.

When a person’s private rights have been infringed, they may seek a civil remedy. A civil remedy can include compensation for injuries and emotional damages, including through the use of fines. Courts exercising civil jurisdiction can order these remedies, which are different to the outcomes available through criminal proceedings.

An individual who accesses a service may be referred to as a ‘service user,’ ‘customer,’ or ‘patient’ in some contexts. While many clients will be those with a lived experience of child sexual abuse (that is, victims and survivors), this term is used to describe the role change that occurs when they interact with a service. Clients may include individuals who are supporters, parents, carers, partners, and advocates of victims and survivors, who may also access services.

Collective healing is a term used to describe a model where individuals develop their own skills and capacities to empower healing in themselves and their families and communities. Whatever form it takes, collective healing is supported by bringing people with similar experiences together, often with their children and grandchildren, in a safe space where they can share, get to know their own story, build understanding and skills, and take positive steps towards a better future.^iv

iv – Healing Foundation, Glossary of healing terms. 2020, Healing Foundation.

Community support services offer primary, secondary and/or tertiary interventions to individuals and groups who are experiencing a crisis or persistent hardship, to build their capacity and resilience. Community support services include accommodation support; respite; therapy and behaviour intervention; individual, family and group counselling; and support, advocacy, referrals, and information.

Community support services are often delivered by not-for-profit agencies but can also be delivered by government, and other non-government organisations.^v

v – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Advocacy, support and therapeutic treatment services, Final report, Volume 9, 2017.

Refers simultaneously to complex forms of victimisation, involving repeated incidents of abuse and betrayal, and the complex traumatic and dissociative symptomatology that results from it.^vi

In contrast with ‘single-incident’ trauma, complex trauma is cumulative, underlying, and often interpersonally generated.^vii

The International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) diagnosis of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder shows the limitations of confining the definition and diagnosis of trauma to exposure to ‘single incident’ events, complex trauma, is well documented to have more extensive impacts than ‘one-off’, ‘out-of-the-blue’ events.

vi – Salter, M., Conroy, E., Dragiewicz, M., Burke, J., Ussher, J., Middleton, W., Vilenica, S., Martin Monzon, B., and Noack-Lundberg, K., “A deep wound under my heart”: Constructions of complex trauma and implications for women’s wellbeing and safety from violence. 2020, ANROWS: Sydney, Australia.

vii – Kezelman, C. and Stavropoulos, P., Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care and Service Delivery. 2012, Blue Knot Foundation.

Contact child sexual abuse is when a person physically sexually abuses a child or young person, as opposed to, for example, showing a child or young person sexual images or grooming a child online. There are criminal offences for different types of contact child sexual abuse. These are sometimes called ‘contact offences’.

Culture is a shared meaning and understanding of norms, values, and the way we see the world.

Cultural safety refers to an environment ‘where there is no assault, challenge or denial of [a person’s] identity, of who they are and what they need’. It refers specifically to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ own assessment of their safety and capacity to engage meaningfully and on their own terms with a non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person or organisation. This requires a non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person or organisation to listen, enable and support these environments, with accountability to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues or service users.

Australia’s population includes many people who were born overseas, have a parent born overseas or speak a variety of languages. Together, these groups of people are known as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations or communities. However, some commentators view the term as increasingly problematic; for example, the Diversity Council of Australia suggests the term prioritises cultural and linguistic explanations of difference and is therefore insufficient for any meaningful discussion or understanding of race and racism.^ix,^x

ix – Sawrikar, P. and Katz, I., How useful is the term ‘Culturally and Linguistically Diverse’ (CALD) in Australian research, practice and policy discourse? 2009, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Australia

x – Mousaferiadis, P. Why ‘culturally and linguistically diverse’ has had its day. n.d., Accessed: 25 February 2022; Available from: diversityatlas.com.au

Developmentally typical sexual behaviours are behaviours that are typical for an identified child or young person, according to their stage of development, are socially appropriate, and that occur within an appropriate context. Where they involve another child or young person, they are mutual, reciprocal, and include shared decision-making. Most sexual behaviour in children and young people is developmentally typical and can occur in any setting, including in person and online.

Domestic violence refers to acts of violence that happen between 2 people who are, or were, in an intimate relationship. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

While there is no single definition, the central element of domestic violence is behaviour motivated by gendered drivers of violence that can involve controlling a partner through fear, coercion and intimidation. For example, by using behaviour that is violent and threatening. In most cases, the violent behaviour is part of a range of tactics to exercise power and control over women and children. It can be both criminal and non-criminal.

Family violence refers to violence between family members, as well as between intimate partners. It involves the same sorts of behaviours as described for domestic violence, but includes the broader range of marital and kinship relationships where violence may happen. For this reason, it is the most widely used term to identify the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as it captures the broader issue of violence within extended families, kinship networks and community relationships. It also covers intergenerational issues.

Family violence is a relevant term when referring to complex forms of violence where family and in-laws, as well as other family members of the abusive spouse, can arrange for violent acts to be committed against the victim or are themselves abusive toward the victim.

A faith-based community refers to a group of individuals united by a clear structure and system of religious or spiritual beliefs.

‘First Nations’ or ‘First Peoples’ (capitalised) can refer to the peoples or nations of people who were there from the beginning, prior to the settlement of other peoples or nations.^xi

xi – Australian Public Service Commission, First Nations Vocabulary – using culturally appropriate language and terminology. 2022, Australian Government: Canberra,

Gender is a social and cultural concept. It is about social and cultural differences in identity, expression and experience as a man, woman or non-binary person. Non-binary is an umbrella term describing gender identities that are not exclusively male or female. Gender includes the following concepts: 

• Gender identity is about who a person feels themself to be. 
• Gender expression is the way a person expresses their gender. A person’s gender expression may also vary depending on the context, for instance expressing different genders at work and home.
• Gender experience describes a person’s alignment with the sex recorded for them at birth i.e. a cis experience or a trans experience.

The term ‘grooming’ refers to intentional behaviours that manipulate and control a child, as well as their family, kin and carers, other support networks, or organisations in order to perpetrate child sexual abuse.

Grooming can be done by people already well known to the child, including by a child’s family member, kin or carer. Grooming can occur online or in person. Online child grooming is the process of establishing and building a relationship with a child or young person while online, to facilitate sexual abuse that occurs either in person or online.^xii This is achieved through use of the internet or other technologies, such as phones, social media, gaming, chat and messaging apps.

The intent of grooming is to:

• gain access to the child or young person to perpetrate child sexual abuse
• obtain sexual material of the child or young person
• obtain the child or young person's trust and/or compliance
• maintain the child or young person's silence, and/or
• avoid discovery of sexual abuse.^xiii

While child sexual abuse often occurs after or alongside grooming, acts of abuse do not need to occur for grooming to have taken place. Similarly, perpetrators can also sexually abuse a child without grooming having taken place.

xii – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report: Our Inquiry – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 2017, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

xiii – ECPAT International, Terminology guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. 2016.

Harmful sexual behaviours are sexual behaviours that fall outside what may be considered developmentally expected or socially appropriate and cause harm to the person who displayed the behaviours or others.

When these behaviours involve another child or young person, they may include a lack of consent, reciprocity, or mutuality, and may involve the use of coercion, force, or misuse of power.^xiv

xiv – National Clinical Reference Group; NOCS, 2022.

Relates to individuals’ ability to address distress, overcome trauma, and restore wellbeing. Healing occurs at a community, family, and individual level. Healing continues throughout a person’s lifetime and across generations.^xv

xv – Healing Foundation, Glossary of healing terms, 2020.

Ways to support healing include reconnecting with culture, strengthening identity, restoring safe, enduring relationships, and supporting communities to understand the impact that their experiences have had on their behaviour and create change. International best practice in healing involves combining traditional First Nation’s cultural healing practices with western methodologies.^xvi

xvi – Healing Foundation, Glossary of healing terms, 2020.

Image-based sexual abuse is defined as the non-consensual taking, sharing or threats of sharing nude or sexual images (photos or videos) of a person.^xvii

xvii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030, p17 & p60.

Formal and informal integration, coordination and collaboration can take many forms, and can be understood as a continuum, with integration the end point, where services are delivered by a single system with sub-units and cross-unit accountability.^xviii

Integration can range from involving two or more agencies/services to programs with a formalised partnership or joint service agreement between agencies, or where there is a formalised statement of shared principles/goals between organisations. It can include ‘one-stop shops’ or case coordination/management initiatives.

xviii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030

Intergenerational trauma refers to trauma that is passed from the first generation of survivors who have experienced trauma, down to future children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. If the trauma is unresolved, next generations have a higher risk of developing trauma symptoms.

An example is where parents have been denied the right to develop safe attachments with their children and provide those children with predictable home environments. In that case, children may be vulnerable to developmental delay, poor education outcomes, interpersonal issues, disability, and higher chances of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. The likelihood of intergenerational trauma is high in families of once Stolen Generation children.^xix

xix – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030

An approach that considers the complexity of a person’s identity and how that manifests in their lived experience, and simultaneously considering how systemic forms of violence and discrimination can interact with one another, creating multiple barriers for individuals.^xx

xx – National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence, Standards of practice manual for services against sexual violence (3rd ed.). 2021: Mildura.

Interventions are actions that workers take on behalf of or with individuals, families, communities and systems to improve health and wellbeing and prevent harm.

Intrafamilial child sexual abuse is understood by specialist sexual violence services as the crime of a child being sexually abused by relatives or others (such as foster carers or a parent’s partner) who feel like family from the child’s point of view. This may also be known as incest.

Broadly speaking, this form of child sexual abuse occurs when it happens on the premises of an institution, where activities of an institution take place, or in connection with the activities of an institution, or is committed by an official of an institution in circumstances whereby the institution has in any way contributed to the risk of child sexual abuse occurring.^xxi

xxi – National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence, Standards of practice manual for services against sexual violence (3rd ed.). 2021: Mildura.

An abbreviation used to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual people. Often extends to other identities and used to refer to all people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgenderqueer, intersex or asexual, or as having any other minority sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Services that meet the health and wellbeing needs of the entire population, such as general practitioners, mental health services, and education.

A person who is required by either state or territory law to report known and suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to a nominated government department or agency. Usually, they need to report to a child protection authority.

Ten high level principles that set out a national approach to creating organisational cultures and practices that promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in Australia.

A person who is found by a court to have done something unlawful.^xxii

xxii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030

‘Online child sexual abuse’ is referred to as ‘any form of sexual abuse of children … which has a link to the online environment’.^xxii

Child abuse material is generally defined as material that depicts a child, or a representation of a child, in a sexual or offensive context, or as the subject of torture, cruelty or abuse.

xxii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030

Organisation means an incorporated or unincorporated group, body, entity or institution. For example, a sports club, school, religious organisation, or government body.

We use the term ’organisation’ to describe any entity that provides, or has at any time provided, activities, facilities, programs or services of any kind that facilitates access to children by adults, including through their families. Where information relates to findings of the Royal Commission, we use the term ‘institution’.

Occurs in contexts other than institutions – in cults, paedophile rings and exploitative family networks. Disclosures relating to sexual abuse in these contexts often involve torture, mind control and physical restraint.^xxiv

Research suggests that there is a strong connection between organised sexual abuse and the production of child sexual abuse material.^xxv

xxiv – Canadian Center for Child Protection, Survivor’s Survey Preliminary Report. 2017, Canadian Center for Child Protection: Winnipeg

xxv – Salter, M. Ritual Abuse, Mind Control and Organised Abuse: Examining our History and Looking Forward. 2018, Accessed: 17 March 2022; Ritual Abuse, Mind Control and Organised Abuse: Examining our History and Looking Forward – ISSTD News

People with disability have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.^xxvi

xxvi – National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence, Standards of practice manual for services against sexual violence (3rd ed.). 2021: Mildura

An adult who has sexually abused a child or young person, including an offender who has been convicted by a court.^xxvii

xxvii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030, p17 & p60.

A set of written guidelines that describe the expectations of organisations, services, and staff providing services to clients. The Minimum Practice Standards also guide clients as to what they can expect when having their needs met by services.

Primary prevention responses are aimed at the whole community and address the underlying causes of child sexual abuse. Primary prevention looks at the social conditions that excuse, justify or enable child sexual abuse. Primary prevention measures can include public education, such as awareness raising campaigns, and programs to create child safe cultures and environments. This may be done through changing or creating new laws.^xxviii

xxviii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.

Procurement offences usually involve a person arranging to engage in sexual activity with a child. The person can encourage, entice, or recruit the child to engage in sexual activity. They can also persuade the child – including through threats or promises – to engage in that activity. Procuring may be done by grooming the child or someone with access to the child. Refer to definition of grooming.

Quaternary prevention evaluates how effective tertiary interventions are to make sure they are delivering the right results.

Any support provided to a client by a service. This includes but is not limited to therapeutic/clinical interventions, cultural healing approaches, case management, legal advice/redress support, advocacy, peer support, and referral.

Secondary prevention aims to change the end result for people who are at risk of experiencing or perpetrating child sexual abuse. Also called early intervention, secondary responses address the early warning signs of child sexual abuse. This includes responding early to harmful sexual behaviours to prevent them from going further or from allowing ongoing harm. Secondary prevention measures can include therapeutic services for people who have sexual thoughts about children or young people.^xxix

xxix – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.

People who are affected by child sexual abuse but are not the primary (the ‘abused’) victim. The secondary victim’s exposure to the abuse may be because of their connection to the primary victim or their connection to the perpetrator. Secondary victims can include perpetrators’ or victim and survivors’ partners and children, parents and carers of abused children, and people who witnessed abuse.^xxx

xxx – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.

Specialist services are those for which the core focus is working with people concerning the impacts of child sexual abuse. Specialist services provide free and confidential information, medical treatment, crisis and ongoing counselling and support, and court support for victims of sexual assault and child sexual abuse, as well as non-offending family members, carers and friends. In some states and territories, specialist services are provided as part of the health system, while in others they are funded by state or territory governments but delivered by the non-government sector (or in partnership with government).^xxxi

xxxi – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Advocacy, support and therapeutic treatment services.

People in victims’ and survivors’ lives who are part of their support network or involved with their care. This includes, but is not limited to friends, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, and partners.

Tertiary interventions aim to respond to child sexual abuse and prevent it from happening again. Tertiary interventions can include:

• trauma-informed support services and health care for victims and survivors
• specialist support services for children with harmful sexual behaviours
• criminal justice responses, which may deter people through criminal laws
• therapeutic interventions for adult offenders to stop them offending again.^xxxii

xxxii – NOCS, National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.

Individual trauma results from an event, series of events or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or lifethreatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual wellbeing.^xxxiii

A person may experience a single incident of trauma, such as witnessing a car accident, or they may be exposed to multiple incidents or multiple forms of trauma. See also definition of Complex trauma.

xxxiii – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. 2014: Rockville.

The Healing Foundation defines trauma-aware, healing-informed practice as a “strength-based approach to healing that is guided by a shared understanding of, and responsiveness to, the impacts of trauma.”^xxxiv

It prioritises cultural, spiritual, physical, psychological, and emotional safety for people seeking help and for the helpers.

xxxiv – Healing Foundation, Glossary of healing terms. 2020, Healing Foundation.

The term ‘trauma specialist’ refers to services or practitioners that have specialist skills in the provision of services designed to address the impacts and effects of trauma and assist individuals to recover. While many agencies are required to be trauma-informed (i.e. operate with an awareness of the impacts and effects of trauma), trauma specialists are both trauma-informed and deliver trauma-specific interventions or therapeutic treatments.^xxxv

xxxv – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report - Our Inquiry. 2017, Commonwealth of Australia: ACT, Australia.

Trauma-informed approaches ensure practices, policies and culture recognise and respond to the effects of trauma on a person’s wellbeing and behaviour. A trauma-informed approach is distinct from trauma-specific interventions or therapeutic treatments. These interventions are part of, but not the same as, a system-wide trauma-informed approach. A trauma-informed approach does not require a service to provide therapeutic treatment addressing the presentations of trauma.

Transformations to a person’s cognition as a result of exposure to traumatic material and experiencing indicators of secondary traumatic stress, such as nervous system dysregulation, avoidance and intrusive thoughts.^xxxvi

xxxvi – Salter, M., Conroy, E., Dragiewicz, M., Burke, J., Ussher, J., Middleton, W., Vilenica, S., Martin Monzon, B., and Noack-Lundberg, K., “A deep wound under my heart”: Constructions of complex trauma and implications for women’s wellbeing and safety from violence. 2020, ANROWS: Sydney, Australia.

Refers to people who have been sexually abused as children or young people. These terms are used both terms in an attempt to capture victims and survivors’ preferences for terminology, and to capture current and historical abuse. In some contexts, the term ‘victim’ has a defined legal meaning. We recognise that some people prefer the term ‘survivor’ because of its association with resilience and empowerment. We also recognise many have lost their lives as a direct result of abuse, or do not feel they have ‘survived’ the abuse and its impacts. In these cases, the term ‘victim’ may be more appropriate. We recognise that some people do not identify with either of these terms”. See also definition of Secondary victim.