What is child sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse is when an adult or child involves a child in any kind of sexual activity.
This is what child sexual abuse can look like:
• A child being shown someone else’s private parts or someone encouraging or forcing a child to show their private parts.
• Asking a child to look at sexual videos or images.
• Making sexual comments to a child, or about other children, like commenting on a child’s private parts.
• Someone looking at a child in a way that makes the child uncomfortable while they are going to the toilet, are in the bath or shower, or are undressing.
• Doing anything sexual with or to a child’s body, including:
– putting fingers, objects or their private parts in a child’s private parts or mouth, or
– encouraging or forcing a child to put their fingers, private parts or other objects in someone else’s private parts or mouth.
• Touching a child, either over or under clothing, in a way that makes the child uncomfortable.
• Encouraging or forcing a child to touch themselves or someone else in a sexual way.
• Encouraging or forcing a child to make or send videos or photos of themselves or other children in their underwear, partially dressed, or naked.
It is never OK for an adult to engage in sexual activity with a child. It is against the law and it must be reported.
Someone who plans to sexually abuse a child may start by “grooming” that child, as well as adults around them.
This means they will do things that might make it easier to spend time with or talk to the child, or things that will make the child trust them and do what they say.
For example, they might try to spend more time with the child, especially in private, or give them gifts or money.
They might tell the child that their relationship “is a secret”.
Grooming may also involve establishing trust with parents, care givers and other adults who might otherwise question or discourage the attention being shown to the child.
It can be hard to know why someone is doing these things, or even to notice that their behaviour has changed. And not everyone who does these things will be trying to groom the child.
Child sexual abuse can happen anywhere: for example, online, in families, or during activities like sport or music lessons.
Children can be abused in places they visit regularly, including at church, school or in community groups.
Sometimes, someone who is a stranger will abuse a child. But most of the time, sexual abuse will be done by someone a child knows and may trust. The abuser could be a family member, neighbour or family friend. Sometimes, the abuse will be done by another child.
Because it’s hard to know the who, where and when of sexual abuse, it’s important to look out for children and young people so that you can note any activity that might be unusual or concerning.
Children can also be sexually abused online either by people they know, or people they don’t know.
Online sexual abuse can include someone sending inappropriate images of themselves to a child, or asking a child to share photos or videos of themselves, including when they’re naked.
Sometimes, a child might do what the person asks at first, and send them a photo or video.
But that person may use what the child has sent to them to bribe or embarrass them into sending more.
Find out where to go for help to have an image removed from the internet.
Online sexual abuse can also involve someone talking in sexual ways through online chats, or encouraging a child to meet up with them in real life.
Not everyone is who they say they are.
Parents and caregivers can find this situation extremely scary and overwhelming but it’s important not to judge or be reactive.
Take the opportunity to sit with your child, listen to them and try to understand what is happening. They may be scared, anxious, defensive, unconcerned or secretive.
This is an opportunity to support, educate and equip them with new skills.
If a child or young person has told you they have been sexually abused, feel scared or unsafe, or something has happened:
Call Tasmania Police 131 444 or visit your local police station any time.
You can also read through our list of organisations that are set up to support children and young people. These services are confidential and are just a phone call or a web page away.
When someone tells you they have been or are being abused, they are asking for help.
If a child or young person asks you for help, you must take a trauma-informed approach. An easy way to think about trauma is to think about the impact an abusive experience has on a person rather than the abuse itself. The effect can be very different for different people.
Try to make sure they feel safe sharing and talking about their experience.
Your approach should include:
- Trust: they trust you to do the right thing.
- Choice: They have a say in decisions that affect them as much as possible.
- Working together: They see you taking action with them.
- Empowerment: They feel in control of their situation.
Examples of things you might say if a child or young person asks you for help.
- Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this.
- Do you feel safe at the moment?
- This is not your fault. I understand and believe you.
- I don’t have any special training, but I can help you talk to people who do.
- You have done the right thing by telling me.
- I need to report this to keep you safe from further harm.
- Would you like to be with me while I make the phone call?
- Is there anyone else you would like to be here with you?
Be calm, supportive, respectful and sensitive. Don’t say or do anything that may recreate the trauma.
If a child or young person has told you they have been or are being abused, you need to tell someone and report it.
Call the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123
Harmful sexual behaviours is a term used to describe children and young people who display sexual behaviours that fall outside what is developmentally expected or socially appropriate.
Harmful Sexual behaviour is a form of sexual abuse between children. The behaviours may cause significant harm and may be experienced as abusive by other children and young people involved.
The behaviours can occur in any setting, including in person and online.
Children develop sexualised behaviours as they grow. Depending on the age of the child or young person, looking, touching, exploring and talking about their bodies and sex is a normal part of development.
When a child acts in a way that is more advanced than the behaviour you would expect at that age, these behaviours may be considered problematic or harmful.
Harmful sexual behaviours refers to a broad range of inappropriate sexual behaviour in children and young people, including behaviours that affects their own development, as well as behaviours that are coercive, sexually aggressive or predatory to others.
However, some behaviours that could initially appear harmful may be ok when viewed in context and should be dealt with using an educative approach.
Read the guide on the Berry Street website to better understand what behaviours are age appropriate and what you should be concerned about.
Child sexual exploitation can be hard to see but it’s generally where the perpetrator – who often has some form of power over the child or young person – benefits in some way at the expense of the victim.
This can often be in the form of an inappropriate relationship – where the abuser has physical, emotional or financial power over the victim. The victim may believe they are in a normal relationship, especially when there’s been a lack of positive nurturing adults in the child or young person’s life.
Child sexual exploitation can also occur online. The Australian Federal Police takes online child sexual exploitation very seriously and leads the ThinkUKnow program designed to help prevent this form of abuse by educating children, young people, their parents and caregivers.
Resources
There are some useful resources available which help to explain child sexual exploitation more: