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Prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of child sexual abuse

Guidance for schools and school principals

This suite of resources provides nationally consistent guidance for schools and school principals on the prevention of child sexual abuse. The resources have been developed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and draw on academic research and expert opinion to provide best-practice advice.

Scroll down to find:

reasons why schools should act to prevent child sexual abuse
definitions of child sexual abuse
advice on how to build a positive and safe school environment
prevention resources
a tool for schools to reflect on their actions to date.

Why do schools need guidance on the prevention of child sexual abuse?

School is one of the places where children and young people spend most time outside their homes.

The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2017) has shown that children and young people have experienced sexual abuse in institutions, such as schools, that were meant to be caring for them.

This abuse has been carried out by adults working in the institutions and by other children and young people.

Research and the work of the Royal Commission show that child sexual abuse is more likely to occur (or to go unreported) in institutions that:

do not have a culture of respecting and listening to children
do not have easily accessible child safety and child protection policies
prioritise the school’s reputational or financial interests over children’s safety
discourage or do not act on complaints
have top-down cultures of authority that disempower children (and junior staff) and affect their
ability to disclose experiences of abuse.

Schools are important settings for the prevention of child sexual abuse. Teachers and school staff already have responsibilities for reporting concerns about student welfare. They can also help to build the protective capabilities of students, and of all adults working with children, so that abuse does not occur.

Guidance and resources

Most states and territories provide resources and training that can help school staff and principals identify and respond to child sexual abuse. Many schools have child-safe policies and procedures in place. This guidance is meant to complement the existing training and advice by describing strategies for the prevention of child sexual abuse through building a positive and child-safe school environment. The guidance also includes links to a selection of prevention resources and training in each state and territory.

Supporting schools and school principals on the prevention of child sexual abuse

Part 1 of a suite of resources. These recommendations have been developed for school staff and principals to use in building a positive and safe school environment that will help prevent child sexual abuse.

State and Territory guidance and training for schools on preventing child sexual abuse

Part 6 of a suite of resources for staff and principals to use in building a positive and safe school environment that will help prevent child sexual abuse.

Reflection tool: What schools can do to protect against child sexual abuse

Part 7 of a suite of resources for staff and principals. This tool is designed to help school principals and staff think through what they currently do to prevent child sexual abuse.

Information, resources and tools

Australian Childhood Foundation

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Child Safe Organisations - Practical tools

Education | eSafety Commissioner

The Practical Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships

A teaching resource (for years 7–10) from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health

Protective Participation: The voices of Young People on Safety

A practice tool to support schools and other organisations to consider how they can involve young people in discussions, decision-making and processes that involve their safety.

Raising Children Network

Situational Crime Prevention for Child Sexual Abuse (Safeguarding Children and Young People Portal)

Stymie

UNICEF | Action to End Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation