The Albanese Government has taken the next steps towards progressing work under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 (the National Strategy) by awarding Jesuit Social Services a contract to establish and deliver Australia's first national child sexual abuse offending prevention service.
Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime that no child should ever experience. The Government is committed to protecting Australia's children and ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Prevention of child sexual abuse is an important part of addressing this.
The service has been developed in response to Recommendation 6.2 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse and Recommendation 21 of the National Strategy. It will be based on successful international models and is supported by law enforcement, academics and clinicians.
The objective of the new prevention service is to protect children from sexual abuse by intervening before an individual offends or re-offends.
The service will provide advice and guidance on how people can learn to manage unwanted feelings and stop harmful or offending behaviour, along with guidance for those concerned about another adult's behaviour. This advice and guidance will be anonymously accessible via a national helpline and website.
The awarding of the contract follows extensive consultations. The Attorney-General's Department anticipates the full launch of the service in the first half of 2026.
Preventing potential offending is just one part of the Government's holistic approach to preventing and addressing child sexual abuse under the National Strategy, which also includes activities to support and empower survivors, improve safeguarding in organisations, raise community awareness, and improve data and research.
Reading about child sexual abuse can be confronting. Visit the National Office for Child Safety
