National Clinical Reference Group (NCRG)
The National Clinical Reference Group was established to support governments’ work to better design and implement responses to understand, prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.
The Royal Commission found there was no nationally comprehensive and coordinated policy approach for understanding, preventing, and responding to harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.
As part of the National Strategy, Australian, state and territory governments are working together to develop a public health framework to prevent and respond to children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours. This includes developing national principles and standards, setting up a national clinical and therapeutic framework, increasing workforce capability, and supporting the community to better understand and respond to developmentally appropriate and harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.
Between 2022 and 2025, the inaugural National Clinical Reference Group provided expert advice on the design, implementation and evaluation of measures related to children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours under the National Strategy. This work reflected the geographic, social and cultural diversity of Australia.
Members of the reference group brought a wealth of expertise across service settings and professional groups. They included health professionals, clinicians and leading researchers with academic expertise in:
- children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours
- child sexual abuse
- childhood development
- childhood sexuality.