In Australia, child abuse can refer to any of the following:

• physical abuse (any deliberately violent behaviour such as slapping, shaking, punching or kicking)

• emotional abuse or psychological harm (any non-physical behaviour meant to cause psychological harm, distress, isolation or fear)

• neglect (any failure to provide a child’s basic needs, such as the inadequate provision of food, shelter, education, clothing or medical care)

• sexual abuse (any sexual activity between an adult and a child)

Although it is possible for ‘one off’ incidents to cause serious harm, in general it is the frequency, persistence and duration of the parental or carer behaviour that is instrumental in defining the consequences for the child or young person.

This can include a range of behaviours such as excessive criticism, withholding affection, exposure to domestic violence, intimidation or threatening behaviour.

For more information, please visit: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/Protecting-kids/reporting-child-at-risk/harm-and-neglect

Any sexual activity between an adult (someone aged 18 or older) and a child (someone under the age of 16) is sexual abuse.

It encompasses a wide range of behaviours and situations. Offences can range from one-time occurrences to multiple experiences and can vary from non-contact sexual offences, such exposing a child to pornography, right up to forced sexual contact.

Whether it occurs face-to-face or online, the sexual exploitation of a child by an adult is always an abuse of power and is a crime in Australia.

Source: DCJ (2016). “See, understand and respond to Child Sexual Abuse”. NSW Department of Communities and Justice. https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/providers/children-families/child-protection-services/resources/chapters/respond-to-child-sexual-abuse

If you believe that a child is in immediate danger, please call the police now on 000.

For any other concern about a child’s welfare, please call the relevant child protection helpline in your state:

• ACT - 1300 556 729

• NSW - 132 111

• NT - 1800 700 250

• QLD - 1800 177 135

• SA - 131 478

• TAS - 1800 000 123

• VIC - 131 278

• WA - 1800 273 889

The helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call the helpline a child protection caseworker will respond and assess what action needs to be taken.

The caseworker is specially trained to ask questions to get all the information they can about the safety, welfare and wellbeing of the child or young person.

For more information, please visit https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/Protecting-kids/reporting-child-at-risk

When a report is received through the Child Protection Helpline, case workers are required by law to make an assessment and determination about whether the child meets the Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) threshold.

Not all reports will lead to further assessment or investigation. This may be because there is insufficient information or reason to believe that the child or young person is at risk of significant harm.

Once a report has been made, you are entitled be told whether a decision has been made to investigate your report.

The Child Protection Helpline will provide feedback to you about whether the report has met the ROSH threshold. This generally occurs within 24 hours of making a report.

Further information about the ROSH threshold is available on the DCJ website at:

https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/Protecting-kids/reporting-child-at-risk/should-i call

It is likely that the child will feel a range of emotions once their situation has become known to somebody. They may feel relieved that something is going to be done to help them or they may feel confused, frightened, guilty or ashamed. Your support will be very important during this period.

Here are some things that you should do to support the child during this difficult time:

• Provide a stable, nurturing environment

• Create predictability by maintaining routines

• Develop strategies to enhance the child’s adjustment

• Be available if the child wants to talk with you

• Allow the child to express themselves through other means such as art and play

• Provide support to the child’s parents (e.g. positive behaviour management strategies) and provide information about community resources if requested

• Preserve the child’s positive contacts with safe, significant others (e.g. grandparents)

• Support the child’s continued participation in positive activities outside the home

• Suggest the child and/or family consider counselling or other appropriate support service.

For more information, please visit: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/responding-children-and-young-people-s-disclosures-abu

The 2016 ABS Personal Safety Survey (PSS) estimates that about 2.5 million Australian adults (13%) experienced physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood (ABS 2019)

This data are likely to underestimate child abuse and neglect in Australia as they do not include cases of child abuse and neglect that go unreported to child protection authorities.

For more information about the prevalence of child abuse in Australia, please visit: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/justice-and-safety/child-abuse-and-neglect

References:
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2019. Personal safety, Australia, 2016: Characteristics and outcomes of Childhood abuse. ABS cat. no. 4906.0. Canberra: ABS.

All forms of abuse can affect a child’s emotional, psychological, cognitive, and physical well-being. Some typical signs of abuse include:

• Untreated physical problems, such as sores, serious nappy rash and dental decay.

• Poor standards of physical hygiene.

• Bruising, scratch marks, burns or lacerations on the child’s face or body.

• Explanations for injuries offered by the carer or child that are not consistent with the injury itself.

• Bruising or bleeding in the genital area or the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.

• Sexual knowledge or behaviour inappropriate for the child’s age.

• Learning difficulties due to changes in concentration, attention, memory, impulse control, and organisation.

• Emotional imbalance, such as extreme moods, anxiety, depression, numbness, or being zoned out.

• Difficulty forming relationships and trusting others.

• Changes in appetite or disruptions in sleeping patterns.

• Self-destructive behaviour, such as self-harm, the use of drugs and alcohol, promiscuity or recklessness.

For more information, please visit https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/Protecting-kids/reporting-child-at-risk/harm-and-neglect/chapters/signs-of-abuse

Domestic and family violence can happen to anyone in any type of relationship. It happens when one person in a relationship hurts another or makes them feel unsafe, and is a repeated pattern of behaviour.

Domestic and family violence does not have to involve hurt to your body, or physical violence, to be domestic or family violence. It can cause fear, stop you from living as you want, and can force you to behave in ways that you do not want to.

Violent behaviour can include:

• Psychological or emotional violence

• Sexual violence

• Financial abuse

• Physical violence

• Spiritual violence

• Social violence

• Legal violence

• Reproductive violence

• Neglect

• Stalking

For more information, please visit the 1800 Respect website.

Source: 1800 Respect

No one has the right to hurt you or make you live in fear.

Domestic and family violence can happen in any relationship and to anyone - regardless of country, religion, sexuality, gender, social background, socio-economic status, age, or culture.

For more information, please visit the 1800 Respect website.

Source: 1800 Respect

Family and domestic violence is a major health and welfare issue both in Australia and Internationally.
Since age 15:

• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous partner

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous partner

• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men have been sexually assaulted and/or threatened

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018). Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia, 2018. Canberra: AIHW. https://doi.org/10.25816/5ebcc144fa7e6

Domestic and family violence can involve behaviour that has threats to you, your children or pets, and makes you feel scared. It can deny your free will and choice, and is an ongoing repeated pattern of behaviour to control you. It is not always physical. It can stop you from living as you want and forces you to behave in ways you don’t want to.

Violent behaviour can include:

• Psychological or emotional violence

• Sexual violence

• Financial abuse

• Physical violence

• Spiritual violence

• Social violence

• Legal violence

• Reproductive violence

• Neglect

• Stalking

For more information, please visit the 1800 Respect website.

Source: 1800 Respect