Data reveals allegations of children sexually abusing peers at school, experts call for action
By the National Reporting Team's Lorna Knowles and Alison Branley
Updated Fri 6 Jun 2014, 3:03pm AEST
Australian schools recorded almost 1,000 cases of children sexually abusing other children last year, but experts warn that figure is the tip of the iceberg.
The ABC has obtained data under Freedom of Information laws that shows education departments around Australia received at least 940 reports of serious sexual assaults among children in 2013.
But criminologist Dr Wendy O'Brien says the problem is under-reported in Australia because of a culture of denial and non-disclosure.
"I do think we do have a problem with data collection in Australia," Dr O'Brien said.
"That stems, in my mind, from the denial that is quite entrenched, the misunderstanding that this is innocent, and that if it's left alone it might go away."
The figures obtained by the ABC varied wildly between the states, sparking calls for national reporting rules and management guidelines.
For example Victoria reported 757 students were involved in such incidents, New South Wales reported 145 incidents, while Tasmania had none.
Many education departments told the ABC they did not keep specific records on the problem, and said that to get statistics they would have to examine each individual report in their system.
The released information reveals the troubling nature of some of the alleged incidents among children in schools.
The data is based on serious incident reports from schools.
Child-on-child sexual abuse allegations in 2013:
Western Australia: 22
ACT: 2
Victoria: 757*
New South Wales: 145
Northern Territory: 7
South Australia: 9
Queensland: Not able to provide.
Tasmania: 0
*Indicates number of students involved in incidents.
Incident reports from South Australia detail children engaging in "sexual language, innuendo, and inappropriate touching".
One reported a child "grooming" another child while another detailed how one child was blackmailed over incidents.
Many reports cited histories of problem sexualised behaviour, interest in younger children, and victims and perpetrators remaining in schools together.
One educator wrote: "I believe [the victim] and her family have been let down by other supporting agencies."
In the ACT there were verbal threats of sexual assault.
Victoria has its own classification of "problem sexual behaviour under 10".
The NSW Education Department said it had recorded 66 cases of indecent assault, 33 cases of sexual assault, 19 cases of sexting, and 27 involving social networking sites.
The problem is not confined to public schools, with one mother telling the ABC that she withdrew her six-year-old son from an exclusive private primary school in New South Wales after the headmaster dismissed her concerns about sexual abuse among boys in the school toilets.
The mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, says her son was sexually abused by a classmate and told her boys were being forced to perform oral sex on other boys in the school toilets.
"I went in to see the headmaster and I expected him to be horrified," she said.
I said to [the headmaster], 'are you saying to me that fellatio between six-year-olds is normal?' And he kept saying 'well I'm not saying it is, but it could be'.
"On numerous times throughout the conversation he said to me, 'well there are activities that boys do that are within the realms of normal behaviour and this could possibly be the same thing, normal behaviour'.
"I said to him, 'are you saying to me that fellatio between six-year-olds is normal?' And he kept saying 'well I'm not saying it is, but it could be'."
The mother says she expected the school would have protocols in place to deal with the problem.
"I just think people need to be more aware that can happen. I think that you put a lot of respect and a lot of trust in the people who teach your children," she said.
"You think that they're doing a good job with them, and you trust that they're there for six hours a day and the right thing is happening.
"And you also trust that if something goes wrong that they will know what to do."
Dr O'Brien was a senior research fellow with the Australian Crime Commission and wrote a report on sexualised behaviours in young children in 2010.
She said the discrepancies in figures between the states indicated child-on-child sexual abuse in schools was not being properly monitored and recorded.
"I don't think it's feasible for us to consider that there would be more than 700 instances in one state and none in another,'' she said.
"I think that we need to work towards an agreement across the country as to the seriousness of this issue, the terminology that might be used to record data when any given instance is observed, the requirements that that be mandatory and be fully understood, and also the options then for referral for those children."
Dr Joe Tucci from the Australian Childhood Foundation runs one of the few programs for children with sexualised behaviour.
He has told the ABC that since his Melbourne-based programs began 10 years ago, referrals have jumped from 10 per year to 200.
Dr Tucci said early intervention was crucial, but said those living in regional areas of Australia were not able to access the support they needed.
"It really depends on where you live as to whether you can access a program like ours, and that's not right," he said.
"You should have access to the same level of intervention in a regional area as you do in a metropolitan area.
"There are places around Australia that don't have any services at all.
"I think that's a problem that will continue to reverberate in the community. Because if these kids aren't supported when they're young, then the behaviour just becomes more entrenched and they do end up being those adults who offend against children."
Counselling services are available for children with sexualised behaviours and for children who have been victimised by sexual assault.
The availability of counselling services differs across Australia.
In general, the following contacts can provide advice about counselling services in your state or territory:
Your closest Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) or other Sexual Assault Service.
The child protection unit at the children’s hospital in your capital city.
Your state department of heath (in some states and territories the sexual assault services are operated by the state health department).
In some instances a full child protection response will be required, with the possibility of investigation and police involvement. (A child with sexualised behaviours who is under 10 years of age would not become the subject of police attention).
Anonymous telephone enquiries can be made to any of the services listed above.
You can contact the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Assault on 1800 099 340.
By the National Reporting Team's Lorna Knowles and Alison Branley
Updated Fri 6 Jun 2014, 3:03pm AEST
Australian schools recorded almost 1,000 cases of children sexually abusing other children last year, but experts warn that figure is the tip of the iceberg.
The ABC has obtained data under Freedom of Information laws that shows education departments around Australia received at least 940 reports of serious sexual assaults among children in 2013.
But criminologist Dr Wendy O'Brien says the problem is under-reported in Australia because of a culture of denial and non-disclosure.
"I do think we do have a problem with data collection in Australia," Dr O'Brien said.
"That stems, in my mind, from the denial that is quite entrenched, the misunderstanding that this is innocent, and that if it's left alone it might go away."
The figures obtained by the ABC varied wildly between the states, sparking calls for national reporting rules and management guidelines.
For example Victoria reported 757 students were involved in such incidents, New South Wales reported 145 incidents, while Tasmania had none.
Many education departments told the ABC they did not keep specific records on the problem, and said that to get statistics they would have to examine each individual report in their system.
The released information reveals the troubling nature of some of the alleged incidents among children in schools.
 |
| Dr Wendy O'Brien |
The data is based on serious incident reports from schools.
Child-on-child sexual abuse allegations in 2013:
Western Australia: 22
ACT: 2
Victoria: 757*
New South Wales: 145
Northern Territory: 7
South Australia: 9
Queensland: Not able to provide.
Tasmania: 0
*Indicates number of students involved in incidents.
Incident reports from South Australia detail children engaging in "sexual language, innuendo, and inappropriate touching".
One reported a child "grooming" another child while another detailed how one child was blackmailed over incidents.
Many reports cited histories of problem sexualised behaviour, interest in younger children, and victims and perpetrators remaining in schools together.
One educator wrote: "I believe [the victim] and her family have been let down by other supporting agencies."
In the ACT there were verbal threats of sexual assault.
Victoria has its own classification of "problem sexual behaviour under 10".
The NSW Education Department said it had recorded 66 cases of indecent assault, 33 cases of sexual assault, 19 cases of sexting, and 27 involving social networking sites.
The problem is not confined to public schools, with one mother telling the ABC that she withdrew her six-year-old son from an exclusive private primary school in New South Wales after the headmaster dismissed her concerns about sexual abuse among boys in the school toilets.
The mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, says her son was sexually abused by a classmate and told her boys were being forced to perform oral sex on other boys in the school toilets.
"I went in to see the headmaster and I expected him to be horrified," she said.
I said to [the headmaster], 'are you saying to me that fellatio between six-year-olds is normal?' And he kept saying 'well I'm not saying it is, but it could be'.
"On numerous times throughout the conversation he said to me, 'well there are activities that boys do that are within the realms of normal behaviour and this could possibly be the same thing, normal behaviour'.
"I said to him, 'are you saying to me that fellatio between six-year-olds is normal?' And he kept saying 'well I'm not saying it is, but it could be'."
The mother says she expected the school would have protocols in place to deal with the problem.
"I just think people need to be more aware that can happen. I think that you put a lot of respect and a lot of trust in the people who teach your children," she said.
"You think that they're doing a good job with them, and you trust that they're there for six hours a day and the right thing is happening.
"And you also trust that if something goes wrong that they will know what to do."
Dr O'Brien was a senior research fellow with the Australian Crime Commission and wrote a report on sexualised behaviours in young children in 2010.
She said the discrepancies in figures between the states indicated child-on-child sexual abuse in schools was not being properly monitored and recorded.
"I don't think it's feasible for us to consider that there would be more than 700 instances in one state and none in another,'' she said.
"I think that we need to work towards an agreement across the country as to the seriousness of this issue, the terminology that might be used to record data when any given instance is observed, the requirements that that be mandatory and be fully understood, and also the options then for referral for those children."
Dr Joe Tucci from the Australian Childhood Foundation runs one of the few programs for children with sexualised behaviour.
 |
| Dr Joe Tucci |
Dr Tucci said early intervention was crucial, but said those living in regional areas of Australia were not able to access the support they needed.
"It really depends on where you live as to whether you can access a program like ours, and that's not right," he said.
"You should have access to the same level of intervention in a regional area as you do in a metropolitan area.
"There are places around Australia that don't have any services at all.
"I think that's a problem that will continue to reverberate in the community. Because if these kids aren't supported when they're young, then the behaviour just becomes more entrenched and they do end up being those adults who offend against children."
Counselling services are available for children with sexualised behaviours and for children who have been victimised by sexual assault.
The availability of counselling services differs across Australia.
In general, the following contacts can provide advice about counselling services in your state or territory:
Your closest Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) or other Sexual Assault Service.
The child protection unit at the children’s hospital in your capital city.
Your state department of heath (in some states and territories the sexual assault services are operated by the state health department).
In some instances a full child protection response will be required, with the possibility of investigation and police involvement. (A child with sexualised behaviours who is under 10 years of age would not become the subject of police attention).
Anonymous telephone enquiries can be made to any of the services listed above.
You can contact the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Assault on 1800 099 340.
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