Australian program treats children who have sexually abused peers

The Children and Young People’s Sexual Safety Program provides therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents in Australia who have sexually harmed another child or teen.

The state-run service operates 12 centres, including New Street Services for those aged 10 to 17 and SafeWayz for children under 10. More than 60 clinicians work with participants to separate their past behaviors from their emerging identities to prevent future assaults. The program focuses on bespoke therapy rather than generic training.

Clinicians help participants explore developmental questions and set personal goals focused on safety, wellbeing, and restitution. This process can last between six months and two years. The treatment includes a victim-survivor perspective and may involve direct conversations with the harmed person in specific cases, such as involving a sibling. Participants work toward a narrative where they acknowledge their past actions without letting those actions define their entire identity.

Research from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study indicates that teenagers are now the most likely perpetrators of child sexual abuse. A researcher from the University of Melbourne, Gemma McKibbin, notes a massive increase in children being exploited by both peers and adults. While demand for the service is high, McKibbin says many families cannot access these services due to a lack of funding and geographical gaps.

NSW Health reported that funding for New Street Services more than doubled from $5 million in 2018-19 to $10.3 million in 2026-27.