Implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse
Today I have released the National Strategy’s First Annual Report which provides an update on the implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030.
Today also marks the sixth anniversary of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse delivering its Final Report.
The release of the Royal Commission’s Final Report in 2017 turned a spotlight onto the darkest corners of society and made 409 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies and practices to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse in institutions.
In response, all Australian Governments are collaborating on the implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 – a whole-of-nation framework for preventing child sexual abuse in all settings – including within organisations, online, within families and by other people known and unknown to the child or young person.
The Annual Report builds upon the Australian Government’s previous five years of annual reporting from 2018 on the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations directed wholly or partially at the Australian Government.
The Australian Government is committed to continuing to address the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and to being transparent and accountable in how we are acting to prevent and respond to all forms of child sexual abuse.
We honour the contributions of victims and survivors and their advocates to the development and implementation of the National Strategy. Their collective expertise and commitment to addressing child sexual abuse has been embedded in the actions outlined in the Annual Report.
The Annual Report demonstrates that improvements are taking place and acknowledges there is still much more work to be done.
In October, we released Australia’s first national campaign aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. The ‘One Talk at a Time’ campaign aims to increase the national conversation about child sexual abuse to protect children and young people, and reduce shame and stigma for 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. Governments, organisations and individuals all have a role to play in creating safe environments for children and young people, and that is why we all need to continue having ‘one talk at a time’.
Child sexual abuse is preventable. We are committed to continuing to work in collaboration with states and territories, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, organisations and the National Strategy’s priority groups to improve laws, policies and practices that prevent child sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse prevention is everyone’s business. Working together, we can prevent child sexual abuse and better support those who have already experienced it.
For more information on the Australian Government’s implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and resources to help keep children safe, visit the Child Safety website.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact the National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 or visit the National Redress Scheme website.
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.