This submission builds on our contributions to the recent joint consultation process, as governments across Australia consider development of Second Action Plans under the National Strategy and related national frameworks. This included discussions hosted by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland MP and Minister for Social Services Hon. Tanya Plibersek, including one specifically on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence, Sexual Abuse and Harmful Sexual Behaviours for Children and Adults. These conversations drew on evidence and what victim-survivors have been telling us needs to change.
Additionally, alongside members of the National Strategy Advisory Group (NSAG), the National Centre has also previously released an open letter calling for urgent, sustained national leadership.
In our submission, we make six recommendations for action:
- Strengthen prevention and early intervention through implementation of evidence informed and promising approaches, and proven approaches where available
- Make disclosure recognition and response quality a national reform priority
- Establish nationally consistent survivor pathways and navigation support across the lifespan
- Establish a national outcomes, accountability and continuous improvement approach
- Embed child sexual abuse priorities across intersecting national reform agendas
- Invest in national capability to support implementation, learning and continuous improvement
This is a critical opportunity to strengthen Australia’s approach to child sexual abuse, and to ensure that child sexual abuse prevention and response priorities are visible and acted on across the broader systems that shape the experiences of children, families and victim-survivors.
Nearly a decade after the Royal Commission, there remains much work to do. The National Centre looks forward to seeing the outcomes of the reform process and working in partnership to deliver evidence-based action for children and young people and victim-survivors.
Read our submission on the Second Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.
