Report Child Sexual Abuse

Phone Triple Zero (000) if it’s an emergency or if you believe a child is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation.

Reporting sexual abuse experienced as a child is confronting and often very difficult for survivors. Bravehearts understands that many survivors need to feel believed and/or the validation of others to gain the strength to disclose and to heal from the trauma they have experienced. Whilst there may be challenges in the identification and reporting of disclosures of child sex offenders and offences, the first step is always to report the abuse.

There is no statute of limitation on reporting a sexual matter and Bravehearts encourages anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, regardless of how long ago, to report the matter to the police.

Bravehearts defines child sexual abuse and exploitation as any act of inappropriately exposing or subjecting a child (under the age of 18) to sexual activity, contact or behaviour by an adult or by another child, for the purpose of gratification (sexual or otherwise).

In many States and Territories, it is an offence for any adult not to report sexual offending against a child by another adult to police. This means all adults have the responsibility to report sexual abuse against children.

Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional in nature. It can include non-contact and contact activities. Examples include kissing, holding or otherwise touching a child in a sexual manner, exposing a sexual body part to a child, having sexual relations with a child under 16 years of age, using sexually explicit language that is not age or developmentally appropriate when communicating with a child, penetration of the vagina or anus by penis, finger or any other object, oral sex, rape, incest, having a child pose or perform in a sexual manner, forcing a child to watch a sexual act or pornographic material or child prostitution. Sexual abuse may also be suspected based on a child displaying sexualised behaviour that is considered outside the range of age-appropriate sexualised behaviours (The Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, 2022).

When to report child sexual abuse

• If you have concerns that sexual abuse may be occurring or has previously occurred.
• If sexual behaviour problems/harmful sexual behaviours have been observed or disclosed.
• If you have a suspicion or concerns that a child or adult may be at risk of harm to themselves and/or others.
• A child or vulnerable person has disclosed that they are being or have been previously sexually abused.
• If you have received an allegation of sexual assault regarding a child or vulnerable person.
• If you believe on reasonable grounds that a child or vulnerable person is in need of protection.
• If an adult discloses or you receive a disclosure that they have previously been a victim of child sexual abuse or exploitation.
• A reasonable excuse not to report a historical disclosure includes if you have received information about the victim who is now an adult, and you reasonably believe they do not want to reveal it to the police and there is no current risk of harm to children.