Child sexual abuse
If a life is in danger or a crime is happening now, dial Triple Zero (000).
What is child sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse is when an adult, a stronger child or a teenager involves a child in sexual activity. Sexual abuse can include:
- having any kind of sexual contact with a child
- having sexual relations with a child under 16 years old
- talking in a sexually explicit way that’s not suitable for a child’s age
- sending obscene mobile messages or emails to a child
- persistently intruding on a child’s privacy
- showing pornographic material to a child or forcing them to watch a sexual act
- child prostitution.
Signs of sexual abuse
Children who’ve been sexually abused may:
- know more about sexual activities than other children their age
- play in a sexual way
- create stories, poems or artwork about abuse
- run away
- break things or hurt animals
- be very quiet or more obedient than normal
- find it hard to concentrate
- have redness or pain around their mouth or private parts
- have torn, stained or bloody clothes, especially underwear
- often play games about power or control
- masturbate more than what is normal for their age
- wet their beds or soil their clothes.
If a child shows any of these signs, you may need to act to keep them safe.
Protect a child from sexual abuse
You should always:
- know who is looking after your children
- listen to your children and believe what they say—children hardly ever make up stories about sexual abuse
- watch your child for signs of stress in a specific person’s company
- be aware of possible signs of grooming.
Recognise grooming
Grooming is the way sex offenders gain the trust of children before involving them in sexual activities.
Examples can be if someone:
- regularly offers to babysit for free or take a child on overnight outings
- separates a child from other adults or children
- buys a child very expensive or too many gifts
- insists on a physical show of affection such as kissing, hugging, wrestling or tickling even when the child clearly doesn’t want it
- is too interested in the sexual development of a child
- insists on time alone with the child with no interruption
- takes lots of pictures of children
- shares alcohol or drugs with younger children or teenagers
- shows their genitals to a child.
When you’re not with your child
You have a right to know your child is safe and to ask questions about what they’ll be doing and who’ll be looking after them.
People who work with children must:
- keep them safe
- have a blue card from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.
Organisations must:
- be able to show you in writing how they plan to handle claims of sexual abuse
- offer activities that suit the age of the children
- look after all the children in their care.
Teach your child
Help your child to be safe without frightening them. You could tell them:
- that the parts of their bodies covered by underwear are private
- what the right names for these body parts are
- that they should let you know if anyone tries to touch their private parts
- who they can talk to if you’re not available.
If your child is not yet in school, you can:
- teach them about personal safety in simple language
- repeat the same rules often
- play ‘what if’ games to repeat the message.
If your child is in primary school, you can teach them:
- your family safety rules
- how to use the rules in a situation that could be dangerous.
You can teach your teenager to:
- think for themselves
- make good decisions
- be strong and confident.
Where to get help
- In an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000).
- Phone Child Safety Services on:
- 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- (07) 3235 9999
- 1800 177 135 (free call).
- Phone Parentline on 1300 30 1300. It’s a free, confidential phone service that offers counselling and referrals (8.00am–10.00pm, 7 days a week).
- Read more information about child sexual abuse and how to report it:
- Phone your local police station about criminal matters related to child sexual abuse.
- Phone the Adults Surviving Child Abuse Information Line on 1300 657 380 to talk to an experienced trauma therapist.
- Read about care and support options for adult survivors of child abuse.
- Phone the ChildWise National Child Abuse Prevention Helpline on 1800 99 10 99.
- Phone the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian for emergency contacts and information to help people affected by abuse.
- The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) advocates on behalf of children and young people and aims to prevent child abuse through their campaigns and programs.
Support is also available from:
