Australia's Response to Sexualised or Sexually Abusive Behaviours in Children and Young People

This study has been conducted for the Australian Crime Commission's National Indigenous Intelligence Task Force (NIITF). An objective of the NIITF is to conduct research on intelligence and information co-ordination and identification of good practice in the prevention, detection and responses to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities. This research is also a recorded action in the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. Strategy 6.2 Enhance Prevention Strategies for Child Abuse lists this study as action 6.2B; “Investigate best practice therapeutic programs for children displaying sexually abusive behaviours". This report on the specialised counselling services to children and young people with sexualised or sexually abusive behaviours is the culmination of extensive consultation with stakeholders in Commonwealth and State Government, non-government organisations, and professionals in relevant sectors.

Responding to children and adolescents with sexualised or sexual offending behaviours presents significant challenges across the allied health, child protection, education and juvenile justice sectors. This report presents data from a national study of specialised therapeutic services to children and young people who display problem sexual behaviours or sexually abusive behaviours. The report maps the national availability of specialised counselling services to divert children and adolescents with these behaviours from the criminal justice system.The study identifies that although there is a need for more comprehensive Australian data on prevalence, the issue of children and young people with sexualised or sexually abusive behaviours is one of increasing concern. Whilst the report identifies a number of challenges in the provision of specialised diversionary services, it also highlights a number of initiatives designed to improve services to children and young people with sexualised or sexually abusive behaviours.