Child sexual abuse
Preventative measures
As a parent, you should always know where your child is, what he or she is doing and with whom. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to ensure that you child will never be a victim of sexual abuse.
However, there are certain preventive measures that can and should be taken to reduce the odds of your child experiencing this trauma.
Preventative measures could include:
- Encouraging your child to talk to you about what they have been doing each day, including time spent with others.
- Create an atmosphere in which your child feels free to talk about any problems with you.
- Explain and discuss sexual abuse with your child openly and encourage questions.
- Explain to your child that their body belongs to them alone.
- Encourage your children to say "No" when they believe their rights are being infringed upon.
- Make clear the difference between abusive touching and acceptable demonstrations of affection by family or friends.
- Assure your children that you want to know if someone tries to touch them, whether it is a stranger or someone in the family.
- Be sure your child knows that you are supportive of them.
- Instruct your child to avoid being unaccompanied in potentially dangerous places such as deserted areas (bushland, parking lots, etc) and public toilets.
- Always encourage children to travel with a friend, rather than alone.
- Ensure that you make the point of dropping and picking your children up from meeting points.
Discussions with your child regarding sexual abuse should be carried out in an open manner which does not frighten the child to the point of being hesitant to engage in normal social activities.
Child abuse should be included in the context of behaviour by others which the child can discuss openly with you. It is, however, imperative that the importance of these precautionary procedures be clearly understood by the child.
Your open manner and sensitivity as well as the child's reaction and level of comprehension should be examined carefully during these discussions. Learning, listening and talking to your child about the preventative measures listed above is a cumulative learning process.
How you can help your child
Any child who has been sexually abused relies on parental support and professional help even if harmful effects are not always evident.
As a parent, you should believe and trust your child if he or she tells you that they have been sexually abused.
Points to remember:
- Children rarely lie about abuse.
- Give your child emotional support and encourage him or her to discuss the incident.
- Report the incident to police and try to get as much information as possible about the offender for example: physical characteristics, clothing, car make, model and colour.
- Contact a doctor if your child has, or you believe may have, suffered physical harm.
Contacts
| Kids Help Line | A national 24-hour telephone counselling service for children and young people in Australia |
Ph: 1800 551 800 |
| Sexual Assault Team (ACT Only) For enquiries from other states, please contact your local police station | Sexual Assault Team PO Box 401 Canberra City ACT 2601 | Ph: (02) 6256 7777 |