The Australian Education Centre against Violence defines child sexual abuse as: “Any sexual act or threat imposed on a child or young person, by an adult, adolescent, or older child. Child sexual assault refers to a range of behaviours that include touching, exposing, pornography, and sexual intercourse.”

Sexual abuse of all types generally occurs in secret. The sexual abuse and assaults against children can be hard to detect and even harder to prove.

Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and an older person.  It can also take place between underage children and young people.  Laws change in definition, but there usually has to be a few years difference between the ages of each party if the sexual activity involved two underage people, before legal action can be taken. 

Any sexual activity between a child and an adult is generally regarded as abusive because of the lack of maturity, awareness of sexual matters and knowledge of ‘consent’ of the young person. What behaviours and events  ‘qualify’ as a crime to be put to a court will ultimately be decided by police then the prosecutor.  Much offending against children is dismissed as ‘child’s play’, or unprovable, without having proper regard for ensuring the child receives support and counseling if required. Not being able to be criminally investigated, or go to court does not mean the abuse did not occur.

Child sexual abuse includes:

• touching or fondling of the private parts of, or by the child
• photographing / filming a child for sexual purposes
• exposing a child’s sexual organs
• exposing/flashing sexual organs
• exposing a child to pornography
• including the child in adult sexual behaviour
• penetration of the genital or anal area, or mouth with an object, penis or any other part of the child’s body
• sexual suggestions
• “sexual education” (i.e. age-inappropriate conversations disguised as sex education)
• kissing in a sexual manner
• watching child dress/shower

“The reality is that paedophilia is a high-risk recidivist offence. If police have fears a paedophile is about to re-offend, then certain people need, and deserve, to know. It’s as simple as that.”
Quote from NSW Police Minister John Watkins.

Why does it happen?
When an older person grooms or engages in sexual activities with a child, generally the behaviours are meant to sexually arouse and gratify the older person.  In general, while some predators convince themselves that the child ‘enjoys’ or ‘loves’ them, or that they have a right to use the child sexually because they bought presents or paid in some other way, no thought is generally given to what effect the behavior may have on the child.

For the most part, the abuser does not care about the reactions, choices or impact on the child, either in the long or the short term. From the child’s perspective, if they felt some emotional or sexual stirrings – such as feeling special, grown up, excited, an erection or orgasm – or accepted gifts or special treats, the child may blame themselves and may be exploited by the abuser.  That’s why paedophiles often choose kids whose families are having problems, or the lonely child.

See useful links for support and contact information.