What Is Child Sexual Abuse?


Child sexual abuse is when an adult, a stronger child or a teenager involves a child in sexual activity.

Sexual abuse can include:

  • having any kind of sexual contact with a child
  • having sexual relations with a child under 16 years old
  • talking in a sexually explicit way that is not suitable for a child's age
  • sending obscene mobile messages or emails to a child
  • persistently intruding on a child's privacy
  • showing pornographic material to a child or forcing them to watch a sexual act
  • child prostitution.

Signs of sexual abuse

Children who have been sexually abused may:

  • know more about sexual activities than other children their age
  • play in a sexual way
  • create stories, poems or artwork about abuse
  • run away
  • break things or hurt animals
  • be very quiet or more obedient than normal
  • find it hard to concentrate
  • have redness or pain around their mouth or private parts
  • have torn, stained or bloody clothes, especially underwear
  • often play games about power or control
  • masturbate more than what is normal for their age
  • wet their beds or soil their clothes.

If a child shows any of these signs, you may need to act to keep them safe.


Protect a child from sexual abuse

You should always:

  • know who is looking after your children
  • listen to your children and believe what they say - children hardly ever make up stories about sexual abuse
  • watch your child for signs of stress in a specific person's company
  • be aware of possible signs of grooming.

Recognise grooming

Grooming is the way sex offenders gain the trust of children before involving them in sexual activities.

Examples can be if someone:

  • regularly offers to babysit for free or take a child on overnight outings
  • separates a child from other adults or children
  • buys a child very expensive or too many gifts
  • insists on a physical show of affection such as kissing,
  • hugging, wrestling or tickling even when the child clearly doesn't want it
  • is too interested in the sexual development of a child
  • insists on time alone with the child with no interruption
  • takes lots of pictures of children
  • shares alcohol or drugs with younger children or teenagers
  • shows their genitals to a child.

When you are not with your child

You have a right to know your child is safe and to ask questions about what they will be doing and who will be looking after them.

People who work with children must:

  • keep them safe
  • have a blue card

Organisations must:

  • be able to show you in writing how they plan to handle claims of sexual abuse
  • offer activities that suit the age of the children
  • look after all the children in their care.


Teach your child

Help your child to be safe without frightening them. You could tell them:

  • that the parts of their bodies covered by underwear are private
  • what the right names for these body parts are
  • that they should let you know if anyone tries to touch their private parts
  • who they can talk to if you are not available.

If your child is not yet in school, you can:

  • teach them about personal safety in simple language
  • repeat the same rules often
  • play what if games to repeat the message.

If your child is in primary school, you can teach them:

  • your family safety rules
  • how to use the rules in a situation that could be dangerous.

You can teach your teenager to:

  • think for themselves
  • make good decisions
  • be strong and confident.


Where to get help



Support is also available from:



Text © The State of Queensland 1995-2012, Child Sexual Abuse, https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/child-sexual-abuse/ Last updated: 17 September, 2012; Viewed 26 October, 2012.


© S. D. Goeldner, 2012. Last updated August, 2019.
http://www.vineyardlabourer.info/stop_violence_abuse/index.html


Stop Domestic and Family Violence And Abuse is part of:
Vineyard Labourer http://www.vineyardlabourer.info

Mobile, tablet, laptop, desktop, etc. friendly webpage design. Powered by w3.css