If you or a child is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). If you need to report child abuse, search for ‘child abuse’ in your state or territory.

If you were abused, neglected or experienced repeated violence or trauma as a child, young person, or adult, there is information and support to help you.

People can and do recover from abuse, neglect and violence as well as from the complex trauma which often results from repeated ongoing trauma experiences such as abuse, neglect and violence.

Left Write Hook is not a support service. 

If you want to talk to someone about complex trauma, childhood trauma and/or child sexual abuse or need support, you can contact these services.

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• Getting a mental health treatment plan

• Fact sheets

Child sexual abuse is defined in different ways which can be confusing.

The various definitions often relate to the different uses in areas such as criminal legislation, therapeutic services, or child protection. Definitions also vary between countries. While definitions matter for our shared understanding, they can also distract from what lies beneath the definition of child sexual abuse. 

Put simply, child sexual abuse is when people involve children in any type of sexual activity. 

Across Australia, children aged 16 or 17 years old can legally consent to sexual activity with adults, except if the adult is a close family member of the child or in a position of authority, supervision, or care in relation to the child (e.g., teacher, coach, the child’s employer, or health practitioner).

Child sexual abuse is never the child’s fault. 

What are some of the different types of child sexual abuse?

• touching a child in a sexual way 

• encouraging or forcing a child to masturbate or touch themselves or somebody else in a sexual way 

• performing oral sex on a child or asking or forcing a child to perform oral sex 

• putting penises, fingers or other objects in a child’s vagina or anus 

• showing their genitals to a child 

• encouraging or forcing a child to show their genitals 

• peeping while a child is going to the toilet, bathing or undressing, or encouraging or forcing a child to peep on somebody else 

• making sexual comments to a child or about a child 

• getting a child to look at pornography 

• encouraging, bribing or forcing a child to make or send videos or photos of themselves or other children in their underwear, partially dressed, naked, or engaged in sexual acts

Access resources on child sexual abuse here.

Child sexual abuse usually happens more than once and can cause a wide range of long-lasting and significant harms and distress for a child that continue through adolescence and early, middle, and late adulthood. 

The harms that result from the abuse are often compounded by widespread negative beliefs, stigmas, and secrecy around child sexual abuse. This can lead victims and survivors to experience shame, humiliation, guilt, ridicule, exclusion, and being blamed for what happened. Children often blame themselves rather than the perpetrator for the abuse. 

No two victims and survivors are the same. Each has a unique story and experiences a distinct pattern of impacts. 

Some commonly reported impacts that can occur across different areas of a person’s life and lifespan include:

• Physical: such as chronic health conditions, inflammatory disorders, sexually transmitted infections, and poor dental health 

• Interpersonal: such as difficulty developing and maintaining relationships, such as intimate relationships and friendships; high-conflict relationships; social isolation and cultural, religious and spiritual disconnection 

• Sexual: such as confusion in sexual development 

• Economic: such as poor educational engagement and outcomes; difficulty maintaining employment, leading to financial difficulties and poor housing security 

• Behavioural: including involvement in antisocial or criminal activities. 

Access resources on the impacts of child sexual abuse here.

More than one-quarter of Australians (28.5%) have experienced child sexual abuse but generally it is not until adulthood that victims and survivors disclose being sexually abused as a child. 

Existing information about disclosure often focuses on children in an effort to intervene, promote child safety and prevent further harm to a child. However, we know that people are more likely to receive a disclosure of child sexual abuse from an adult than a child, and they may not know how to respond. 

What does ‘disclosure’ mean?
When an adult 'discloses' child sexual abuse, it means sharing their experience of abuse or talking about what happened during their childhood. An adult might talk about their abuse to different people at multiple times throughout their life or only tell one person. Some people never talk about being sexually abused.

How do adults disclose?
Adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse often feel shame and embarrassment, worry about not being believed, and have concerns about the impact their disclosure will have on others. 

These are only some of the reasons why it can take decades for some people to disclose, especially males. People from First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those from LGBTQIA+ and some religious communities, can experience additional barriers that may delay disclosure. Disclosure is rarely a one-off event and is typically a complex and lifelong process.

Here are some ways to provide a compassionate response if an adult discloses their experience of child sexual abuse:

• try to manage your reaction; stay calm, focus on listening 

• try to be patient, it may take some time for the victim or survivor to tell their story 

• be aware of your facial expressions and body language 

• reassure the adult that: 1. you believe what the person said, and 2. the victim or survivor is never to blame for what happened 

• ask what the person needs from you and what support you can provide 

• help the adult understand that you are trustworthy and can talk to you again. 

It is very important that people are believed when disclosing, even if there are significant delays between the abuse and disclosure. 

Access resources on understanding and responding to adult's disclosure of child sexual abuse here.

We know that child sexual abuse is alarmingly common in Australia. One in three girls and almost one in five boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 and this is likely an underestimation.

This means that adults need to be alert to its possible occurrence and actively tuned in to signals from children that they are being sexually abused. One of the ways to know it’s occurring is by children ‘disclosing’ their abuse.

When a child 'discloses' sexual abuse, it means they tell someone else about their experience of abuse or talk about what is happening. A child might talk about the abuse to different people at multiple times throughout their life or only tell one person. It is critical that adults create opportunities and a safe environment for children and young people to share what is happening in their own words. 

Who do children disclose to? 
There is consistent global evidence that younger children (up to about 14-years-old) are most likely to initially tell a parent or parent-like figure and are more likely to tell mothers than fathers. Children also sometimes tell other family members, like siblings or grandparents. 

As children get older and friends become more important, older teenagers are more likely to first tell a friend rather than adults like parents or teachers. These friends may then tell an adult about the information because they are worried and want to help keep their friend safe. 

How do children tell? 
Disclosures by children and young people can look different depending on their age and developmental stage. Most children disclose their sexual abuse slowly, over time. Some might provide lots of detail, while others might share just small pieces of information to see how someone responds. Older children often try to anticipate the reaction of other people and then decide how much information to share. If a negative reaction or response is received, they are less likely to keep disclosing. 

Sometimes children ‘recant’ or ‘retract’ (take back) what they said about abuse. This is very common and does not mean that children are lying or making up stories about their abuse. 

Younger children (under about 6-years-old) are less likely to directly disclose being sexually abused compared to older children. Instead, younger children are more likely to indirectly show signs of abuse through their behaviour which gives 'clues' about what happened.

Disclosure is a process not a one-off event. Sometimes disclosure happens many times throughout a person’s life and some children will never disclose their abuse. It is very common for children of all ages to delay disclosing their abuse for a long time, especially if the perpetrator is someone they know, trust, and love. It can take decades for some people to disclose, especially boys.

Access resources on understanding a child's disclosure of sexual abuse here and responding to a child's disclosure of sexual abuse here.

What does justice mean for victims and survivors? 

• Telling their story: having a safe space to share.

• Being believed: trust that their story is taken seriously. 

• Accountability: holding perpetrators responsible. 

• Prevention: ensuring others are not harmed. 

• Moving forward: the ability to heal and move on with life.

Most victims and survivors are motivated to reduce child sexual abuse and keep the community safe. Victims and survivors want perpetrators to stop the behaviour so that other children are not harmed.

What are the barriers to justice for victims and survivors? 
The Criminal Justice System, across all levels, does not meet the needs of most victims and survivors. Those that do engage with the system often find the process traumatising. 

Some of the challenges include:

• A lack of support before, during, and after the court and trial process 

• A lack of information for victims and survivors about what to expect

• A lack of cultural safety for First Nations victims and survivors

• Those with a responsibility in the system are not trauma-informed 

• A lack of alternative pathways 

How can the Criminal Justice System be improved? 

“It’s about empowering victims and survivors throughout the process.” 
Renee Handsaker 

Law reform is critical to improve outcomes and experiences for victims and survivors in the justice system. Even if the legal outcome is not as expected or sought, a more trauma-informed judicial system would allow victims and survivors to still feel seen, heard, and respected throughout the process. 

“’We need to realise that this is not a justice system, but a legal system.” 
Dr Jodi Death 

What would an improved or re-imagined system look like?

• More funding for holistic support services

• Options such as victim advocates, judge only trials and specialised courts

• A trauma-informed system

• Restorative approaches that expand the notion of justice

Educating the public about the challenges faced by victims and survivors within the Criminal Justice System can help shift attitudes toward more supportive and victim and survivor centred approaches to justice.

Access resources on creating a justice system that serves the needs of victims and survivors here.