What is Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a crime. Child sexual abuse is when an adult or someone older than the child uses his or her authority or power over the child, or takes advantage of the child’s trust and respect, to involve the child in sexual activity. These activities are both physical and non-physical.

Physical activity includes:

• Touching children’s genitals or private parts for sexual pleasure
• Encouraging or making a child touch their genitals, engage in sexual games which could include penetration.

Non-physical activity include:

• Exposing an adult’s genitals to a child
• Encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts
• Photographing a child in sexual positions
• Showing pornography to a child
• Inappropriately watching a child undress or use the bathroom

Sexual Abuse Indicators

Tips for Reporting

1. The child’s name, address, age, family circumstances and language
2. Your reason for suspecting that the child has been sexually abused
3. Whether the family and/or perpetrator is aware of the report (if the non-offending parent(s) knows of the alleged abuse, whether any action has been taken to protect the child); and
4. Any other information you consider relevant

The more information that you can provide, the greater the likelihood of an effective investigation.

If anyone is requiring immediate emergency services please call 000.

If you know of or suspect a child who may be experiencing any form of sexual abuse please contact your local DHS Child Protection Services.

Child Protection Contacts

After hours  13 12 78

During business hours ring the number covering the local government area (LGA) where the child lives.

Metrolopolitan

Northern and Western surburban LGA’s – 1300 664 977

Banyule, Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra

Eastern surburban LGA’s – 1300 360 391

Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges

Southern surburban LGA’s – 1300 655 795

Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip, Stonnington.

Rural and Regional

South-western rural and regional LGA’s – 1800 075 599

Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Greater Geelong, Moyne, Queenscliffe, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Warrnambool.

Western rural and regional LGA’s – 1800 000 551

Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack.

North-western rural and regional LGA’s – 1800 675 598

Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mount Alexander, Swan Hill.

North-eastern rural and regional LGA’s – 1800 650 227

Alpine, Benalla, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga.

Eastern and south-eastern rural and regional LGA’s – 1800 020 202

Bass Coast, Baw Baw, East Gippsland, Latrobe, South Gippsland, Wellington.

Interstate

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT) – 1300 556 729
• New South Wales (NSW) – 132 111
• Northern Territory (NT) – 1800 700 250
• Queensland (QLD) – (07) 3235 9999
• South Australia (SA) – 131 478
• Tasmania (TAS) – 1800 001 219
• Western Australia (WA) – (08) 9325 1111

Find out more

Telephone Interpreting Service: – 131 450 (24 hours)

Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line: – 1800 806 292 (CASA)

Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) locations and phone numbers across Victoria are listed below.

Find out more