Theme 5: Improving the evidence base
This content was initially created in 2022. Some information may no longer be current including titles of Ministers and Commonwealth Government Departments. You can find a list of current appointments on the Directory website.
The language we use has also changed from the initial terminology in the National Strategy. For a full list of the terminology we use, see our Glossary of terms page.
A strong data, research and evaluation agenda will build our evidence on the nature, causes and impacts of child sexual abuse in Australia.
A strong evidence base is the best way to understand how to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse. It also helps make sure our work is:
- culturally safe
- age and development appropriate
- trauma-informed
- designed to meet people’s different needs and circumstances.
The focus of Australian Government measures
We will focus on addressing gaps in research and data relating to child sexual abuse. This work will equip law enforcement, intelligence and research agencies to:
- identify and disrupt the cash flow behind child
sexual abuse - enhance our ability to identify offenders within
the community.
The Australian Government will set up a strong monitoring and evaluation framework to assess how well measures under the National Strategy’s First National Action Plan and First Commonwealth Action Plan have been implemented. We will assess whether the National Strategy and First Commonwealth Action plan meet or achieve their shared vision, objective and values.
The measures
31. Use statistics to understand the nature and scale of Australians committing child sexual abuse offences
Overview
The Australian Institute of Criminology will set up the Australian Sexual Offences Statistical Collection. This collection will be a comprehensive longitudinal statistical collection on all reported sexual offences in Australia. It will include information on the:
- offence
- offender’s characteristics
- victim’s characteristics.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendation 6.3 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
Australian Institute of Criminology
32. Complete a survey of adult offenders
Overview
The Australian Institute of Criminology will complete a survey of adult offenders incarcerated for child sexual abuse offences.
This survey will cover:
- contact child sexual abuse offences
- offences relating to child sexual abuse material
- online child sexual abuse offences
- procurement offences.
The survey will complement the Australian Sexual Offences Statistical Collection by providing detailed self-reported information about child sexual offenders that may not otherwise be available.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendation 6.3 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
Australian Institute of Criminology
33. Link data to help prevent and disrupt livestreamed child sexual abuse
Overview
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will expand its intelligence work targeting Australians who pay to watch livestreamed abuse of children overseas. This will help the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to maintain an intelligence team to work with partners to combat livestreamed child abuse.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendation 6.24 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission