Theme 3: Enhancing national approaches to children with harmful sexual behaviours
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.
The Royal Commission defined ‘children with harmful sexual behaviours’ as children and young people under 18 years old who have sexual behaviours that are outside the range typically accepted as within the norm for their age and level of development. The term ‘harmful sexual behaviours’ recognises the seriousness of the behaviours. It also recognises the significant impact the behaviours can have on victims and survivors, as well as on the child or young person themselves.
You can learn more about institutional responses to children with harmful sexual behaviours on the Royal Commission website.
Supporting children with harmful sexual behaviours
The Royal Commission found that there was no nationally comprehensive and coordinated policy approach for preventing, identifying or responding to children with harmful sexual behaviours. There are large inconsistencies and gaps in how Australia deals with this issue. There is also limited knowledge and education about the issue in the community.
Lack of common understanding and response to children with harmful sexual behaviours means children and young people may face stigma and not be able to access the support they need when they need it. Their behaviour may also be seen as sexual experimentation and the impacts not recognised as harmful. We need a holistic response to address these issues.
We also need more research to better respond to children with harmful sexual behaviours. This includes research into the role of pornography, the internet and other media and technologies. Research will also make sure our responses include the best ways to support children and prevent further harm. Research shows that most children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours do not go on to commit sexual abuse as adults.
It suggests that if children and young people are provided with an appropriate and holistic assessment, and a therapeutic response tailored to their individual needs, harmful behaviours are more likely to stop and less likely to escalate. However, we need more research in this area, including research to better understand which specific therapeutic approaches prevent adult offending.
You can learn more about the nature and cause of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts on the Royal Commission website.
Measures under theme 5 will consider these gaps as part of a national research agenda.
The focus of government measures
Australian, state and territory governments will work together to develop a framework to prevent and respond to children with harmful sexual behaviours. This framework will be based on a public health model. This means we act early when harmful sexual behaviours first appear, we assess children with harmful sexual behaviours and help them to access therapeutic intervention.
Measures in the First National Action Plan will build our foundational national capability to prevent and respond to children with harmful sexual behaviours. State and territory governments have an important role in providing services to children with harmful sexual behaviours, such as youth justice and therapeutic services. These measures will allow state and territory governments to keep developing their own responses, while also lifting the national standard and encouraging people to work together across Australia.
The measures
12. Set up a National Clinical Reference Group
Overview
The National Clinical Reference Group will support governments’ work to better design and implement responses to children with harmful sexual behaviours. The reference group will likely include experts such as health care professionals and academics.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendations 10.1 and 10.2 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
National Office for Child Safety
13. Develop national standards for responding to, supporting and safeguarding children with harmful sexual behaviours
Overview
Australian, state and territory governments will develop and agree on national standards for children with harmful sexual behaviours. The standards will be a high level and consistent way to identify, refer, treat and provide ongoing support for children with harmful sexual behaviours. This may include developing nationally consistent terminology and harmonising frameworks. The national standards will consider governments’ local situations and could be applied flexibly.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendations 10.1, 10.2, 10.5 and 13.6 from the Final Report
Recommendation 84 from the Criminal Justice Report
Lead Australian Government Department
National Office for Child Safety
14. Set up a national clinical framework for responding to children with harmful sexual behaviours
Overview
The national clinical framework will include advice and best practice ways to help health professionals provide therapeutic treatment and ongoing support for children with harmful sexual behaviours. This measure will likely start once the national standards are progressed.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendations 10.1 to 10.7 and 12.12 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
National Office for Child Safety
15. Increase workforce capability for preventing and responding to children with harmful sexual behaviours
Overview
This will include developing standards and benchmarks to increase workforce capability. It will support a multidisciplinary response.
The standards may include:
- professional qualifications
- clinical supervision
- staff retention
- culturally safe practices and systems
- providing specialist practice resources.
It may also include training people who work with children to identify and respond to children with harmful sexual behaviours. This measure will likely start once the national standards are progressed.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendations 10.1, 10.6 and 12.13 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
National Office for Child Safety
16. Support the community to better understand and respond to developmentally appropriate sexual behaviours and harmful sexual behaviours in children
Overview
We will deliver this measure as part of the national awareness raising campaign under measure 6. It will address misinformation and community stigma about children with harmful sexual behaviours.
This measure may include developing targeted resources and information for:
- children and young people
- parents
- kin and carers
- families
- organisations
- early childhood services.
Awareness raising may cover things like:
- healthy and unhealthy sexual development
- the signs and effects of harmful sexual behaviours
- responding to children and young people who have engaged in, or been affected by, the harmful sexual behaviours of others
- information on referrals and support services.
This part of the awareness raising campaign will happen once we have started the other measures on children with harmful sexual behaviours.
Royal Commission recommendation
Recommendation 10.1 from the Final Report
Lead Australian Government Department
National Office for Child Safety