Understanding sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found there was no nationally comprehensive and coordinated policy approach for preventing, identifying or responding to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people. There is limited knowledge and understanding of the issue within the community, and there are inconsistencies and gaps in how Australia responds to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) found that almost one in 7 (13.7%) Australians aged 16 years and over have experienced child sexual abuse and harm by a child or young person under the age of 18 years. The prevalence rate is around 1.5 times higher for Australians aged 16 to 24 years compared to Australians aged 25 years and over (18.2% compared 11.7%). These findings indicate that harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people are more prevalent compared with previous generations.

Lack of common understanding and response to concerning or harmful sexual behaviours means children and young people who display them may face stigma and not be able to access the support they need when they need it. When provided with an appropriate and holistic assessment, and a therapeutic response tailored to their individual needs, harmful sexual behaviours are more likely to stop and less likely to escalate.

Under the National Strategy, we are working with state and territory governments to develop a national framework to prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people. Measures in the First National Action Plan aim to build the foundation of this public health approach. They include primary, secondary and tertiary responses to improve prevention while allowing a range of interventions to be implemented so that children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours receive a response proportionate to their needs and context.

Our work aims to build the foundational national capability to provide supportive and proportionate responses to sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people and prevent concerning or harmful sexual behaviours from occurring.