National campaign launched to prevent child sexual abuse

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Media Release

The Australian Government has today launched Australia’s first national campaign aimed at preventing child sexual abuse.

The $22.4 million ‘One Talk at a Time’ campaign is targeted at adults who play an active role in the lives of children and young people and encourages them to have ongoing, proactive and preventive conversations about child sexual abuse.

Based on significant research and testing ‘One Talk at a Time’ demonstrates the power that breaking the culture of silence and shame can have in preventing child sexual abuse.

The campaign will run across Australian media and online channels until mid-next year. The campaign is a key measure under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and fulfils a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The Australian Government is committed to preventing and responding to child sexual abuse in all settings, and supporting victims and survivors. Every child and young person has the right to be safe from child sexual abuse, and it is our collective responsibility to protect them.

I am particularly proud this campaign has received support from victims and survivors, their advocates and child safety experts, many of whom worked with the Australian Government to inform the development of the campaign.

This campaign honours the work and strength of the victims and survivors who advocate for change each day, sometimes at a great personal cost.

The campaign materials can be viewed at the childsafety website, where additional resources and information are available to support adults to learn more and start to talk about this topic.

Reading about child sexual abuse can bring up strong feelings. Support is available. For 24/7 support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14; 1800RESPECT; or 13YARN (13 92 76) for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis support. Blue Knot Foundation supports anyone affected by complex trauma, and is available Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm AEDT.