Workshop Introduction

Sadly Australia did not begin to acknowledge the issue and impact of child abuse and neglect until the 1960’s and 1970’s. From here, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child was developed to acknowledge children as individuals with rights. In 1981 Australia became a signatory to this declaration.

Since the 1990’s the parameters, risk factors, signs and the impact of child abuse have been internationally documented. In the year 2020 it is a sobering reality that in such a technologically advanced society we still hear of the ongoing and increased incidents of child abuse and neglect. Australian statistics show us very clearly that approximately 96% of abused children and young people are abused by people they know and trust. Abuse to children and young people is perpetrated both within and outside their homes and the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found large numbers of children were abused in institutions from 1950 to the current day. On the 18th of March 2020 The Australian Institute of Child Health and Welfare reported key child protection findings for 2018–19 as follows;

Key Findings

All adults have a role in protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect. Parent’s, families, community members, non-government organisations, businesses, police, child protection agencies and government can all work together to create environments that maintain the safety and well being of children and young people.