Educating the community

Home: Survivors: For Males: It happened to us

'It is important to make the community realise that it happens to boys too and that long- term effects are equally as damaging for males and females.'

The community needs information about how to be perceptive and receptive to the signs that abuse may be occurring and how to act to stop it. Participants felt it was important to educate both children and adults about child sexual abuse. This booklet is an attempt to do this.

'Sexual abuse is a people issue, it's not a man's issue, it's not a woman's issue, it's everyone's issue.'

'Victims are often abused by people that they know, by loved ones and people whom they supposedly trust. These abusers/perpetrators seem perfectly normal to the outside world.'

'We get things on the television saying don't stick the knife into the toaster, we don't get things on television about sexual abuse.'

'The fact [is] that well-meaning people in society actually work to hide the issues, whether they be doing it subconsciously or consciously.'

'Respond to the slightest suspicion or possibility of abuse occurring even if this is found to be unfounded.'

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Department of Human Services

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 21 May 2010