24-year-old Melbourne woman charged over child abuse material offences
A 24-year-old Melbourne woman has been charged with child abuse material offences, after allegedly downloading a graphic video using a social media application.
The Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (VIC JACET), comprising of Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police members arrested the woman on Wednesday (16 December, 2020) after conducting a search warrant at her Laverton home in Melbourne’s west.
Her mobile phone was seized as a result of the search warrant.
It will be alleged in court the woman possessed graphic child abuse material after downloading the video online via the social media platform ‘Kik’.
The woman will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 18 December, 2020) charged with possession of child abuse material.
AFP Commander Investigations, Southern Command, Todd Hunter said the AFP together with its state law enforcement, Commonwealth and International partners, remained committed to holding alleged offenders accountable for their role in horrific crimes against children.
“If you are downloading and sharing child abuse material you are complicit in the sexual abuse of children and the lifelong harm it causes – it’s as simple as that. But you are not anonymous and you will be caught,” he said.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available, visit to learn more www.accce.gov.au/support
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation: www.thinkuknow.org.au
Note to media:
Use of term ‘CHILD ABUSE’ MATERIAL NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’ The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
• indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse. Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
Media inquiries:
AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297