What makes up the Framework
The linked pdf provides a high-level overview of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, demonstrating the links between the five National Strategy Themes, long-term outcomes, medium-term outcomes, and the measures and indicators. Details of these factors are outlined in subsequent sections.
Monitoring and Evaluation Framework high-level overview [PDF] 72.36 KB
Long-term outcomes
Outcome 1:
Everyone recognises and is empowered to act on systemic and direct risks to child safety
Outcome 2:
Children and young people are safe from child sexual abuse
Outcome 3:
Individuals are prevented from committing child sexual abuse
Outcome 4:
Everyone committing or enabling child sexual abuse is held accountable, and organisations engage in genuine processes to restore trust and safety
Outcome 5:
Victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, including secondary victims, receive high quality therapeutic responses and support at all stages of their life
Outcome 6:
Expected sexual behaviours and development in children and young people are understood and supported
Medium-term outcomes
Medium-term or ‘enabling’ outcomes refer to the specific and measurable changes that are expected as a result of the National Strategy’s activities being implemented.
The Framework’s 19 medium-term outcomes are mapped against the National Strategy’s 5 themes. These outcomes are focussed on the collective impact of activities for children and young people, victims and survivors, families, kin and carers, communities, and organisations and governments – even if individual activities only result in material changes for some, but not all, of these groups.
Theme 1: Awareness raising, education and building child safe cultures
Medium-term outcomes:
- Everyone has increased awareness and understanding of child sexual abuse
- Communities, organisations and governments implement child safety policies and practices and have a culture where the best interests of children and young people, and victims and survivors, are a priority
- Child sexual abuse is discussed openly, respectfully and without shame or stigma
- Digital technologies are used to promote child safety and respond to child sexual abuse
These 2: Supporting and empowering victims and survivors
Medium-term outcomes:
- Victims and survivors are better recognised and believed at all stages of disclosure and complaint
- Victims and survivors, including secondary victims, are supported and empowered to manage the impacts of child sexual abuse
- Organisations responsible for harm restore trust from victims and survivors
- Victims and survivors, including secondary victims, have access to high-quality services
- The workforce and organisations are resourced to recognise and respond to child sexual abuse with high-quality care
- Service system responses (criminal, legal, statutory, educational, health and mental health sector) to child sexual abuse are coordinated to support victims and survivors
Theme 3: Enhancing national approaches to children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours
Medium-term outcomes:
- Building knowledge so everyone can understand and recognise developmentally expected, concerning and harmful sexual behaviours
- Children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours receive access to high-quality assessment and proportionate therapeutic responses and support
- Families, communities and workforces receive support and are equipped to meet the needs of children and young people who have displayed, and those impacted by harmful sexual behaviours
Theme 4: Offending prevention and intervention
Medium-term outcomes:
- People and organisations are aware and comply with their responsibilities regarding child safety
- Justice and service providers are better connected to identify and respond to offenders, perpetrators and people at risk of perpetrating child sexual abuse
- Statutory frameworks and justice responses are focused on stopping child sexual abuse including preventing further abuse
- High-quality referral pathways for offenders, perpetrators and people at risk of perpetrating are available, used and have appropriate referral pathways in and out
Theme 5: Improving the evidence base
Medium-term outcomes:
- High-quality evidence and knowledge is available on the prevalence and incidence of child sexual abuse
- High-quality evidence and knowledge is available on effective and best practice early interventions and holistic responses to child sexual abuse
Short-term outcomes
Short-term outcomes will be mapped against the implementation of National Strategy activities. Activity leads will define, monitor and evaluate these outcomes as part of their own evaluation plans in coordination with the National Office for Child Safety.
Indicators and measures
Indicators refer to the direction of change (that is, increase or decrease) needed to progress towards an outcome.
In the short-term, indicators may have a perceived counter-productive effect (for example, Indicator 12: Decrease in barriers to victims and survivors disclosing child sexual abuse acting against Indicator 1: Reduction in incidence of child sexual abuse). Indicators should be considered holistically across the lifetime of the National Strategy.
Measures describe the way each indicator will be tracked. Indicators have multiple measures where possible. For all measures outlined in this Framework, data will be disaggregated by the National Strategy priority groups, where available.
Measuring the objective of the National Strategy: To reduce the risk, extent and impact of child sexual abuse and related harms in Australia
The National Strategy’s 4 headline indicators and their respective measures will directly determine whether progress is being made towards the National Strategy’s objective.
Data for all measures will be disaggregated by that of National Strategy priority populations, where data are available and of reportable quality.
Headline indicators and measures
Indicator 1: Reduction in the incidence of child sexual abuse
Measures:
1a. Number of children and young people aged 0–18 years who reported child sexual abuse to police (ABS Recorded Crime — Victims)
Annual data available for disaggregation by sex and age at report, state and territory where the crime occurred and Indigenous status (NSW, Qld, SA and NT only)
1b. Number of historical reports of child sexual abuse reported to police (ABS Recorded Crime — Victims)
Customised annual data available for disaggregation by sex, age at incident, time to report, state and territory where the crime occurred and Indigenous status (NSW, Qld, SA and NT only)
1c. Number of reports of online child sexual exploitation to the Australian Centre for Countering Child Exploitation and the eSafety Commission (ACCCE & eSafety)
Annual data available for disaggregation by organisation
1d. Number of child sexual abuse offenders arrested/charged by police, by age (under 18 and over 18) and sex
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 2: Reduction in the prevalence of child sexual abuse and related harms in Australia
Measures:
2a. Proportion of the Australian population aged 16 years and over who have experienced child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
2b. Proportion of the Australian population aged 16 years and over who have experienced child sexual abuse, by relationship to offender of child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data disaggregated by age (16–24 years and 25 years and over) and gender
2c. Proportion of young people aged 16–24 years who have experienced contact child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by gender and type of contact offense (for example, abusive, touching, attempted intercourse or abusive intercourse)
2d. Proportion of young people aged 16–24 years who have experienced non-contact child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by gender
2e. Proportion of young people aged 16–24 years who have experienced online sexual exploitation (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by gender
2f. Proportion of young people 16–24 years who experienced multi-type maltreatment (sexual abuse and one or more other forms of child maltreatment), by gender (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by gender
Indicator 3: Increase in protective factors against child sexual abuse victimisation
Measures:
3a/16a. Proportion of the public that understands what constitutes healthy, safe, respectful and supportive relationships
No appropriate data source currently available
3b/8a/19b. Number/proportion of organisations that engage in child-related work that are implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
No appropriate data source currently available
3c/5d. Proportion of public that think there is a likelihood that online child sexual exploitation can happen to their child
(ACCCE Research Report Online Survey)
3d/5e. Proportion of public that know what they can do to keep children safe from online child sexual exploitation
(ACCCE Research Report Online Survey)
3e. Proportion of public that speak to their children about online safety
(ACCCE Research Report Online Survey)
3f. Proportion of children and young people who understand and have received education about child sexual abuse, consent and healthy, safe, respectful and supportive relationships.
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 4: Reduction in the impact of child sexual abuse and related harms in Australia
Measures:
4a. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who completed high school
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4b. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who are employed
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4c. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who engaged in binge drinking during the past year, by age and gender
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4d. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who were dependant on cannabis in the past year, by age (16–24 years and 25 years and over) and gender
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4e. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who have ever attempted suicide, by age and gender
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4f. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who have ever self-harmed, by age and gender
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4g. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who have a mental health disorder, by age and gender
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4h. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who have been involved in the criminal justice system
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4i. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who have experienced intimate partner violence in adulthood
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
4j. Number of children and young people reporting child sexual abuse as the reason for seeking assistance from Specialised Homelessness Services
(Specialist Homelessness Services Collection)
Annual data available for disaggregation by age group, sex, state and territory of agency, Indigenous status, potentially also disability status (depending on sample size and ability to maintain confidentiality)
Measuring the National Strategy's long- and medium-term outcomes
The remaining National Strategy indicators and their respective measures sit below the 4 headline indicators. They measure the specific progress needed to eventually meet the National Strategy objective through achieving the long- and medium-term outcomes. If the headline indicators indicate limited progress against the National Strategy objective, these indicators will show where this progress is being limited.
Indicators and measures
Indicator 5: Increased awareness and understanding of child sexual abuse and how to appropriately respond
5a. Proportion of general public who understand the approximate prevalence of child sexual abuse by gender
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
5b. Proportion of general public who understand the impacts of child sexual abuse victimisation on adult victims and survivors
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
5c. Proportion of the general public who agree that child sexual abuse is preventable
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
3c/5d. Proportion of public that think there is a likelihood that online child sexual exploitation can happen to their child
(ACCCE Research Report Online Survey)
3d/5e. Proportion of public that know what they can do to keep children safe from online child sexual exploitation
(ACCCE Research Report Online Survey)
Indicator 6: Decrease in community attitudes that justify, minimise, excuse, hide or shift blame about child sexual abuse
6a. Proportion of general public who disagree that familial child sexual abuse is a private matter
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
6b. Proportion of general public who disagree that child sexual abuse only happens once
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
6c. Proportion of general public who disagree that a parent is to blame if their child is sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
6d. Proportion of general public who agree that 2 adults sharing photos and videos of children and young people depicted in sexual activities constitutes child sexual abuse
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
6e. Proportion of general public who agree children should always be believed when they disclose child sexual abuse
No appropriate data source currently available
6f. Number/proportion of media articles relating to child sexual abuse which utilise appropriate trauma-informed language, terminology and images
No appropriate data source currently available
6g. Proportion of media reporting that is thematic rather than episodic
No appropriate data source currently available
6h. Proportion of the general public who disagree that a child is to blame for sexual abuse
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 7: Increase in appropriate information sharing and coordination between organisations for the best interests of the child
7a. Number of organisations linked/collaborating to provide warm referrals between services and jurisdictions and share relevant child safety and wellbeing information
No appropriate data source currently available
7b. Proportion of organisations collaborating through shared network/alliance etc.
No appropriate data source currently available
7c. Number/proportion of organisations using child safety and wellbeing information sharing provisions
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 8: Increase in organisations implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
3b/8a/19c. Number of organisations that engage in child related work that are in the process of implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
No appropriate data source currently available
8b. Number of organisations that have embedded the National Principles as part of their regulatory frameworks
No appropriate data source currently available
8c. Number of Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities that are implementing the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (one of the requirements is to implement the National Principles)
(National Office Annual Statement of Compliance)
8d. Number of Commonwealth entities that have included the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework online modules into their learning and development requirements for staff
No appropriate data source currently available
8e. Proportion of child related organisations that have published an organisational statement of commitment to child safety
No appropriate data source currently available
8f. Number of participants in child safe capacity building programs provided by Children’s Commissioners/Guardians
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 9: Increased confidence and trust in the systems and organisations responsible for responding to child sexual abuse
9a. Number of organisations reporting (publicly or in annual reports) on their progress to create and maintain child safe cultures, including prevalence/incidence (historic or current) of child sexual abuse
No appropriate data source currently available
9b. Proportion of non-government organisations invited by the National Office to report on their child safety that submit a report
(National Office non-government reporting)
9c. Proportion of organisations engaging with victims and survivors to build trust and provide support
No appropriate data source currently available
9d. Proportion of victims and survivors who feel that the organisations/people that harmed them have taken responsibility for their actions
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 10: Increased confidence in responding to child sexual abuse disclosures and increased receptiveness when victims and survivors speak out
10a. Proportion of general public who feel confident knowing how to start a conversation with a child they suspected to have been sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10b. Proportion of general public who are confident they know how to emotionally support a child who disclosed they have been sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10c. Proportion of general public who are confident they know how to practically support a child who disclosed they have been sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10d. Proportion of general public who are confident that they know which authorities to report child sexual abuse to
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10e. Proportion of general public who are confident that they know how and when to talk to the authorities after discovering that a child has been sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10f. Proportion of general public who are confident that they know who to turn to first after discovering that a child has been sexually abused
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
10g. Proportion of general public who are confident that they know how to protect and support a child who has disclosed child sexual abuse
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
Indicator 11: Increased confidence to respond to adult disclosures of child sexual abuse and increased receptiveness when adult victims and survivors speak out
11a. Proportion of general public who feel confident knowing what to say to an adult who discloses child sexual abuse
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11b. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know their legal obligation to tell police if an adult tells them they had been sexually abused as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11c. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know where to find help for an adult who disclosed to them that they had been sexually abused as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11d. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know how to comfort an adult who disclosed to them that they had been sexually abused as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11e. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know what to say to emotionally support an adult who disclosed to them that they had been sexually abused as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11f. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know what to do to practically support an adult who disclosed to them that they had been sexually abused as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11g. Proportion of general public who feel confident they know how to help an adult victim and survivor of child sexual abuse feel listened to and heard
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
11h. Proportion of general public who feel confident they understand the challenges for an adult in telling them about sexual abuse they suffered as a child
(National Centre Community Attitudes Study)
Indicator 12: Decrease in barriers to victims and survivors disclosing child sexual abuse
12a. Proportion of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse who have ever disclosed child sexual abuse
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
12b/19a. Average time between first incident and first disclosure of child sexual abuse
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
12c. Person or organisation to whom the victim and survivor first disclosed their experience of child sexual abuse
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
12d. Proportion of child sexual abuse victims and survivors who first disclosed abuse to a mandatory reporter
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age, gender and mandatory reporter status
12e. Proportion of victims and survivors who felt the person they first disclosed child sexual abuse was helpful
(Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
12f. Victims and survivors’ barriers faced when disclosing child sexual abuse before the age of 18 years
No appropriate data source currently available
12g. Reasons for not disclosing child sexual abuse victimisation during childhood
No appropriate data source currently available
12h. Victims and survivors’ barriers faced when disclosing child sexual abuse during adulthood
No appropriate data source currently available
12i. Reasons for never disclosing child sexual abuse to another person
No appropriate data source currently available
12j. Proportion of victims and survivors who felt their disclosure experience (or experiences) were positive
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 13: Increased availability of high-quality services for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse
13a. Number of child sexual abuse support services meeting baseline service standards, by state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
13b. Number of clients accessing child sexual abuse support services, by length of wait time and state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
13c. Number of victims and survivors who sought child sexual abuse support services but did not access them, by reasons for lack of access (for example, services are full or gaps in service)
No appropriate data source currently available
13d. Proportion of people who have experienced child sexual abuse who received a service, by:
- service/program type
- time between incident and service access
No appropriate data source currently available
13e. Proportion of First Nations clients satisfied with the cultural safety of service
No appropriate data source currently available
13f. Proportion of clients satisfied with service experience and outcomes
No appropriate data source currently available
13g. Number/proportion of requests to specialised child sexual abuse services that go unassisted
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 14: Improved legal responses to child sexual abuse
14a. Number/proportion of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse who have commenced criminal justice system pathways for seeking justice
No appropriate data source currently available
14b. Number/proportion of victims and survivors who are satisfied with the legal pathways available to seek justice
No appropriate data source currently available
14c. Number/proportion of victims and survivors who report receiving acceptable outcomes through the criminal justice system
No appropriate data source currently available
14d. Proportion of victims and survivors satisfied with their experience engaging with the criminal justice system
No appropriate data source currently available
14e. Proportion of secondary victims satisfied with their experience engaging with criminal justice system
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 15: Increased availability of high-quality services and support for secondary victims of child sexual abuse
15a. Website traffic to support services (or resources) for secondary victims of child sexual abuse
No appropriate data source currently available
15b. Number of clients accessing secondary victims support services
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 16: Improved awareness and understanding of what constitutes expected sexual development
3a/16a. Proportion of the public that understands what constitutes healthy, safe, respectful and supportive relationships
No appropriate data source currently available
16b. Proportion of schools and educational settings teaching about healthy, safe, respectful and supportive relationships and sexual development in an accessible, trauma-informed and culturally safe manner
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 17: Increased availability of high-quality services for children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours
17a. Number of support services available for children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours
No appropriate data source currently available
17b. Number of support services for children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours meeting baseline service standards, by state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
17c. Number of clients accessing support services for children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours, by state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
17d. Number of children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours who sought support services but did not access, by reasons for lack of access
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 18: Improved workforce capability and capacity for responding to children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours
18a. Number of staff/full-time equivalent working in therapeutic support services for children and young people who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours, by state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
18b. Number of therapeutic support services where the workforce has required skills, knowledge and experience, by state and territory
No appropriate data source currently available
18c. Number of non-therapeutic services where the workforce understands sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people and know how to respond appropriately
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 19: Increased early identification of child sexual abuse and potential child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours
12b/19a. Average time between first incident and first disclosure of child sexual abuse (Australian Child Maltreatment Study)
2021 ACMS Survey data available for disaggregation by age and gender
3b/8a/19b. Number of organisations that engage in child-related work that are in the process of implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
No appropriate data source currently available
19c. Proportion of workforce who feel confident to recognise and respond to potential or suspected child sexual abuse
No appropriate data source currently available
19d. Proportion of workforce who feel confident to recognise and respond to potential or suspected harmful sexual behaviours
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 20: Increased barriers to showing and sharing child sexual abuse online
20a. Number of online organisations (that facilitate image sharing) that have policies and procedures in place to remove child sexual abuse materials
No appropriate data source currently available
20b. Proportion of online organisations (that facilitate image sharing) with policies and procedures in place to prevent access or exposure to, distribution of, and online storage of child sexual abuse materials
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 21: Improved availability of effective responses to child sexual abuse offenders or prospective perpetrators
21a/22a. Number of clients accessing services to prevent potential perpetrators from offending
No appropriate data source currently available
21b. Number of offenders who complete post-custodial recidivism reduction programs
No appropriate data source currently available
21c/22c. Proportion of released child sexual abuse offenders who participate in a community-based post custodial recidivism reduction program, and who do not commit further offences within a defined period
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 22: People who commit child sexual abuse take responsibility for their actions and behaviours
21a/22a. Number of clients accessing services to prevent potential perpetrators from offending
No appropriate data source currently available
22b. Proportion of child sexual abuse offenders and perpetrators who engage in and complete perpetrator programs and interventions
No appropriate data source currently available
21c/22c. Proportion of released child sexual abuse offenders who participate in a community-based postcustodial recidivism reduction program, and who do not commit further offences within a defined period
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 23: Increase in availability of high-quality evidence to understand, prevent and respond to child sexual abuse
23a. Number of evidence-based research, information and resources available on best practice in understanding, responding to and preventing child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people
No appropriate data source currently available
23b. Increase in availability of high-quality evidence to understand, prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours
No appropriate data source currently available
Indicator 24: The voices and experiences of priority groups inform policy
24a. Number of National Strategy activities consulted with advisory groups, by group
No appropriate data source currently available
24b. Priority group representatives agree that their views and experiences are reflected in the implementation of National Strategy activities
No appropriate data source currently available