Articles about ‘Child Abuse’
Abuse and harm - legal and practice definitions
For Workers
This Advice provides information for Child Protection practitioners on the legal and practice definitions associated with 'children in need of protection' due to harm from abuse or neglect, and includes a definition of 'significant harm'.
Access issues regarding abusers and victims
For Family & Friends, Female Survivors, Workers
In some instances, situations arise where an alleged perpetrator gains access to their child or adolescent victim. Another situation may involve being around an adult survivor of his childhood victimisation. An abuser may gain considerable satisfaction from this situation.
Child development and trauma guide
For Teachers
This guide has been prepared because of the importance of professionals in the Family Services, Child Protection and Placement and Support areas understanding the typical developmental pathways of children and the typical indicators of trauma at differing ages and stages.
Child physical abuse: Understanding and responding
For Students, Teachers, Workers
This booklet has been developed for professionals whose work brings them into contact with children and who are required by law to report child physical abuse.
Child sexual development
For Family & Friends, Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Workers, Young People
An exploration of what are the customary stages of sex play and what behaviuors are of concern.
Children and trauma
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers, Young People
Children may experience psychological reactions to a traumatic incident. They react to frightening events in many different ways and there is no typical or “normal” reaction. Younger children in particular may find it very hard to understand what has happened to them, their parents or siblings.
Coping with disaster and trauma: children’s reactions
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers
Children may experience psychological reactions to a traumatic incident. They react to frightening events in many different ways and there is no typical or “normal” reaction. Younger children in particular may find it very hard to understand what has happened to them, their parents or siblings.
Defining and identifying child abuse
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers
This booklet examines how to identify child abuse including indicators of harm, consequences of harm and how to act upon child abuse concerns.
For foster carers
For Family & Friends, Workers
What to do if your foster child discloses sexual abuse
It is often the case that when a child comes into foster care that very little is known about his/her background.
For friends
For Family & Friends, Students, Young People
Information for people whose friends have been sexually assaulted.
For grandparents
For Family & Friends
As a Grandparent, there are many issues that must be faced when your child has sexually assaulted a grandchild.
For parents
For Family & Friends
A booklet for parents of children who have been sexually assaulted. It contains information on issues for non-offending parents.
Going to court
For Family & Friends, Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Workers, Young People
In Victoria, all criminal cases against adults begin in the Magistrates’ Court. Most criminal cases against people aged over 10 and under 18 at the time of the offence are dealt with by the Children’s Court. The following pages contain information for victim/survivors about these courts.
Helping the child victim of sexual assault
For Family & Friends, Teachers
A fact sheet about how to help a child victim of sexual assault.
How do I explain to others
For Family & Friends
There will be people who will be curious to know what has happened to your child and want to know why changes have occurred recently in your family.
If you think a child is being sexually assaulted
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers
In 85% of child sexual assault cases, the child knows the perpetrator. Most child sexual assault takes place in the home of the child. (NSW Commission for Children and Young People, 2009).
Information for parents/carers about specialist assessments
For Family & Friends
Your child has been referred to SECASA by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Child Protection, for a “specialist assessment”. SECASA is a government funded counselling agency for victims of sexual assault and their non-offending family members.
Mother/daughter rape
For Female Survivors, Students, Workers
This Chapter appeared in Womens encounters with violence: Australian experiences. Edited by Sandy Cook and Judith Bessant, 1997. Sage Publications. This work is reproduced here for the purposes of the SECASA website only. No unauthorised copying is permitted without the permission of the Author.
Providing support to vulnerable children and families
For Teachers
This guide is for registered school teachers or principals in Victoria, about their role in ensuring that vulnerable children are protected and supported.
Recognising abuse and neglect
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers
This booklet lists the indicators of child physical abuse, emtional abuse and neglect. Singly and more often in combination they can alert us to the possibility of sexual abuse and the need for further investigation.