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Child sexual abuse: Understanding and responding

Author: Department of Human Services

Tags: Child Sexual Abuse, For Teachers, For Workers, Legal Information

Professionals working with children are likely to come in contact with children who have experienced sexual abuse. They need to be prepared to recognise and respond to child sexual abuse, and to support child victims and their families. This booklet will help professionals respond to this serious social problem.

Contents

• Introduction
• What is child sexual abuse?
• Towards an estimate of child sexual abuse
• Indicators of child sexual abuse
• Physical indicators
• Behavioural indicators
• Facts and myths about child sexual abuse
• Effects of child sexual abuse
• Principles for intervention
• Helping children who have experienced sexual abuse
• Reporting child sexual abuse
• Role of the Department of Human Services
• Role of the Police
• How to report child sexual abuse
• Follow-up
• References
• Acknowledgments