Grant awarded for Australia's first national service supporting non-offending family members

The Australian Government has awarded SANE Australia funding to establish and deliver the National Service for Non-Offending Family Members of Child Sexual Abuse.

SANE Australia will lead a consortium comprising Phoenix Australia, yourtown and Thirrili to deliver this service. Together, the partnership brings expertise in lived experience-informed, evidence-based and culturally safe support and healing for people with complex mental health issues, grief and trauma. This includes demonstrated expertise in designing and delivering services that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and families as well as suicide prevention and postvention services.

The service will provide non-offending family members* access to a free national helpline, an online hub providing trusted resources and moderated peer support. It will also raise awareness of the experiences and needs of non-offending family members and help reduce the stigma that can prevent people from seeking assistance.

The service forms part of the Australian Government's National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030, and will deliver the client support and advocacy functions under Measure 10 of the National Strategy's First National Action Plan.

The Australian Government will provide SANE Australia with $9 million (excluding GST) over 3 years (2026-27 to 2028-29) to support establishment and delivery of the service.

The service will be co-designed to deliver accessible, trauma informed and culturally safe support, particularly for priority groups identified under the National Strategy. It is anticipated to launch in the first half of 2027.

The National Office for Child Safety thanks all organisations that submitted applications for the grant opportunity.

*Non offending family members are people connected to a child sexual abuse perpetrator through biological, adoptive, foster, stepfamily, family of choice and kinship relationships. Family may include friends and culturally significant relationships. Each individual is best placed to define who they consider to be their family.

The issues discussed in this story may affect people in different ways. Find out more about available support services.