What Is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child sexual abuse is when an adult, a stronger child or a teenager involves a child in sexual activity.

Sexual abuse can include:

• having any kind of sexual contact with a child
• having sexual relations with a child under 16 years old
• talking in a sexually explicit way that is not suitable for a child's age
• sending obscene mobile messages or emails to a child
• persistently intruding on a child's privacy
• showing pornographic material to a child or forcing them to watch a sexual act
• child prostitution.

Signs of sexual abuse

Children who have been sexually abused may:

• know more about sexual activities than other children their age
• play in a sexual way
• create stories, poems or artwork about abuse
• run away
• break things or hurt animals
• be very quiet or more obedient than normal
• find it hard to concentrate
• have redness or pain around their mouth or private parts
• have torn, stained or bloody clothes, especially underwear
• often play games about power or control
• masturbate more than what is normal for their age
• wet their beds or soil their clothes.

If a child shows any of these signs, you may need to act to keep them safe.

Protect a child from sexual abuse

You should always:

• know who is looking after your children
• listen to your children and believe what they say - children hardly ever make up stories about sexual abuse
• watch your child for signs of stress in a specific person's company
• be aware of possible signs of grooming.

Recognise grooming

Grooming is the way sex offenders gain the trust of children before involving them in sexual activities.

Examples can be if someone:

• regularly offers to babysit for free or take a child on overnight outings
• separates a child from other adults or children
• buys a child very expensive or too many gifts
• insists on a physical show of affection such as kissing,
• hugging, wrestling or tickling even when the child clearly doesn't want it
• is too interested in the sexual development of a child
• insists on time alone with the child with no interruption
• takes lots of pictures of children
• shares alcohol or drugs with younger children or teenagers
• shows their genitals to a child.

When you are not with your child

You have a right to know your child is safe and to ask questions about what they will be doing and who will be looking after them.

People who work with children must:

• keep them safe
• have a blue card

Organisations must:

• be able to show you in writing how they plan to handle claims of sexual abuse
• offer activities that suit the age of the children
• look after all the children in their care.

Teach your child

Help your child to be safe without frightening them. You could tell them:

• that the parts of their bodies covered by underwear are private
• what the right names for these body parts are
• that they should let you know if anyone tries to touch their private parts
• who they can talk to if you are not available.

If your child is not yet in school, you can:

• teach them about personal safety in simple language
• repeat the same rules often
• play what if games to repeat the message.

If your child is in primary school, you can teach them:

• your family safety rules
• how to use the rules in a situation that could be dangerous.

You can teach your teenager to:

• think for themselves
• make good decisions
• be strong and confident.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, phone Triple Zero - 000.
• Read more information about child sexual abuse and how to report it:
  Child sexual abuse: Things you need to know (PDF, 2MB)
  Child sexual abuse: Things you need to know (RTF, 331KB)
• Contact your local police station about criminal matters related to child sexual abuse.
• Phone the Blue Knot Helpline on 1300 657 380 to talk to an experienced trauma therapist.

Support is also available from:

• Kids Helpline
• Lifeline
• Reachout

Text © The State of Queensland 1995-2012, Child Sexual Abuse, https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/child-sexual-abuse/ Last updated: 17 September, 2012; Viewed 26 October, 2012.