'Support for children, families and the wider community is available, but child sexual abuse in early education settings is not a one-off event,' says SASVic CEO, Kathleen Maltzahn.
Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic), peak body for the state's 19 specialist sexual assault services, shares wider community concern about the shocking news unfolding today. Victoria Police are investigating a number of alleged sexual assaults linked to an employee who worked at a number of childcare centres across Melbourne.
Parents and families of the very young children directly impacted, as well as early childhood educators working in the centres where the alleged perpetrator was employed, have every right to feel distressed.
SASVic emphasises that families are not alone.
- The consequences of child sexual abuse can be profound. However, child sexual abuse experts tell us that lasting impact is usually caused when children don't get the help they need after sexual harm. Where parents and authorities respond well, children can and do recover, heal and thrive.
- If you or your child is directly impacted, you don't have to the navigate these decisions and conversations alone. Specialist sexual assault services can support you to create a trauma-informed, emotionally and physically safe approach that is responsive and enables children of all stages of development to express their needs and ask for support.
- Please check the list of centres and contact the dedicated advice line on 1800 791 241 (open 7 days a week, 8 am to 9 pm weekdays and 8 am to 5 pm weekends) if you believe your child was at the centre at that time.
- Specialist sexual assault services across the state are also available to provide support to those not directly included in the 2,500 families contacted by government, including children and adult survivors of sexual violence who have been affected by the media coverage, and the wider community. SASVic has set up a dedicated webpage, including video resources & information for concerned parents and families on the SASVic website, here: https://www.sasvic.org.au/ecec. You can find contact information for your local specialist sexual assault service here: https://peak.sasvic.org.au/servicemap
Unfortunately, child sexual abuse in education settings is not a one-off event. We know from a recent study from UNSW, that almost 1 in 10 Australian men has committed a sexual offence against a child or children so we need to be prepared. Most of all, we need to invest in effective prevention strategies and support for survivors.
Although details about the current investigation are still coming to light, strategies SASVic would like to see urgently prioritised include:
- Equipping parents to create spaces and conversations where children have the shared language and opportunity to share concerns, ask questions or make disclosures. Parents could receive relevant information via universal maternal & child health services and early childhood education settings.
- Improved regulation and oversight of those working with children, especially in early childhood settings. This includes strengthening Victoria's Working with Children Check (WWCC) laws so that evidence of abuse or concerning behaviour that has not resulted in a criminal charge or a disciplinary or regulatory finding can be considered, and strengthening measures that protect, instead of punishing, whistleblowers (although we do not know or assume that concerns were raised earlier about this person).
- Stronger regulation and restriction of pornography that promotes and normalises child sexual abuse, higher penalties for companies that breach the Online Safety Act, and criminalising AI systems designed/adapted to perpetrate child sexual abuse offences.
- Equipping the wider community with information and resources to spot and disrupt 'grooming' practices, including grooming of adults around the child (parents, community, professionals).
About us:
Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic) is the peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. We work to promote rights, recovery and respect for victim survivors and other people impacted by sexual violence and harm. We seek to achieve this by working collectively to change attitudes, systems and structures that enable sexual violence to occur.
