Tier 2 – Additional knowledge

Knowledge

In addition to Tier 1 knowledge, you need to know: 

• many victims and survivors, families, kin and supporters seek justice and redress following child sexual abuse
• the justice system (police, child protection and courts) can be complex to navigate, and engagement can be traumatic for victims and survivors, family, kin and supporters given the requirement to provide evidence about child sexual abuse
• there are services to support access to the justice system and evidence collection, including court support, forensic and medical services, legal services, redress services and the appropriate ombudsman, commission or tribunal
• poor outcomes in court or through complaint processes can compound distress and exacerbate a range of other difficulties for the victim and survivor
• achieving ‘justice’ can mean different things for different people, and not all victims and survivors will want to pursue a criminal justice outcome.

Skills

In addition to Tier 1 skills, you can: 

• if you are continuing to work with the victim or survivor, prioritise their wellbeing and support needs throughout their involvement with criminal justice, child protection and complaint systems
• link victims and survivors with additional support services as early as possible in the criminal justice or complaints process
• communicate regularly with victims and survivors to keep them updated where that is within your role
• provide support for victims and survivors and their family, kin and supporters throughout the court or complaint process.

Did you know?

Legal services for victims and survivors 

Knowmore offers free legal advice and support to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and helps them consider their options on a range of legal matters, including compensation, redress and other legal issues related to abuse. Knowmore also employs a team of Aboriginal Engagement Advisors to support Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors.

What do victims and survivors tell us?

‘It felt like the police invaded my life, swarmed in, took what they wanted and then bye bye.’ 

– Bethany, 16 years old 

Bethany felt pressured to go forward with criminal proceedings after assurances her case would be taken to court and was left feeling deceived when she was informed, after reporting, that the case may not go to court. These feelings she experienced of coercion, deception and broken promises left her feeling disempowered, and mirrored the abuse. Her experience highlights the downfalls of process driven approaches to investigation that do not offer control or acknowledge the emotional impact on children and families.’ 

– Excerpt from page 157 of a research article by Butterby and Hackett (2021)

Resource

Children’s Commissioners and Guardians 

You can find information about child-focused appeals, complaints about service provision and advocacy in your state and territory at these links: 

• National Children’s Commissioner
• ACT Children and Young People Commissioner
• NSW Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People
• NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• NT Office of the Children’s Commissioner
• Qld Family and Child Commission
• SA Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People
• Tas Commissioner for Children and Young People
• Vic Commission for Children and Young People
• WA Commissioner for Children and Young People

Working with children checks 

There are key regulatory systems to improve the safety of children and young people. These include working with children checks, and complaints, appeals and advocacy options provided by Children’s Commissioners and Guardians. You can find information about working with children checks at these links:

• Australian Capital Territory – Working with Vulnerable People Check
• New South Wales – Working With Children Check
• Northern Territory – Working With Children Clearance
• Queensland – Blue Card Services
• South Australia – Working with Children Checks
• Tasmania – Registration to Work with Vulnerable People
• Victoria – Working with Children Check
• Western Australia – Working with Children Check

Knowledge

In addition to Tier 1 knowledge, you need to know: 

• about any formal and informal partnerships, multi-agency collaboration and service coordination offered within your local service system
• that you can:
  • refer to specialist sexual assault services or specialist child sexual abuse services
  • request consultation from a specialist service to guide your responses to victims and survivors
  • partner with a worker from another service to ensure cultural safety and access.

Skills

In addition to Tier 1 skills, you can: 

• assess whether referral to or consultation with a specialist sexual assault service is an appropriate response to a victim and survivor
• work collaboratively across and in partnership with multi-agency systems to ensure that victims’ and survivors’ needs are at the centre of responses
• attend interagency events and create opportunities to network with other services.

Did you know?

Importance of networking 

‘I think networking is my number one priority – get to the other services and knowing how you help the client the best. If you are not knowledgeable and if you just don’t want to connect with other services, you cannot help your client as much as you want.’ 

– Alcohol and other drug counsellor, quoted on page 87 of a research report by Salter et al. (2020)

Knowledge

In addition to Tier 1 knowledge, you need to know: 

• victims and survivors may have sought help from a range of other services for the traumatic impacts of child sexual abuse, and you may not be the only worker or service providing a response
• when working with victims and survivors as part of a team, you may need to allow additional time to coordinate care with other workers
• the importance of advocating for improvements to the service system based on feedback from victims and survivors, with consent.

Skills

In addition to Tier 1 skills, you can: 

• promote continued engagement by victims and survivors with your service (should they choose to do so and if an ongoing response is within the scope of your role)
• discuss with your manager the extent and limits of collaboration with other workers involved in the care of the victim and survivor
• listen to the victim and survivor to understand their preferences and choices so that workers providing other services can understand these and agree on appropriate goals, priorities, processes, and outcomes.

What do victims and survivors tell us?

‘[We need] better referral between professionals/ services. I repeatedly experienced “sorry, not my area, can’t help” from doctors and mental health services. It was very hard to find and be accepted by the right service.’ 

– Female adult victim-survivor, quoted on page 100 of a commissioned report by Antonia Quadara (2017).

Resource

Victims and survivors seek help from a range of services 

Child sexual abuse is one type of child maltreatment. Other types include physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study established that across the Australian population, 39.4% of people have experienced multi-type maltreatment, and 23.3% have experienced 3 to 5 different types. 

The study found that Australians who experience child maltreatment are more likely to have a mental disorder and engage in health-risk behaviours, including substance misuse, self-harm and suicide attempts. Child maltreatment is associated with increased likelihood of hospital admissions, and higher numbers of consultations with healthcare professionals of various types throughout life.