MEDIA STATEMENT
18 December 2025
As a member of the National Strategy Advisory Group (NSAG), the National Centre joins NSAG in calling for urgent investment in the Second Action Plan of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse. The scale of harm in Australia demands nothing less.
While some progress has been made under the First Action Plan, right now Australia is falling short. The evidence is sobering and it confirms what the National Centre has said time and time again – Australia cannot afford to delay concrete action any longer.
More than one in four Australians (nearly 7 million people) are victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Online exploitation continues to escalate. Harmful sexual behaviours among children are the fastest growing form of abuse. And victims and survivors continue to fall through the gaps with devastating consequences.
The impact is lifelong and the economic and social costs are significant. This is a public health, safety and human rights crisis and requires sustained national leadership.
The National Centre endorses the submission from NSAG to Government which sets out a clear, evidence-informed pathway for national action. It calls for a $1 billion, five-year investment which is an ask proportional to the scale of harm. This investment would advance eight critical priorities where coordinated national leadership is essential:
- Ensuring victim and survivor voices and participation shape every decision
- Specialist, trauma-informed services for victim-survivors
- Addressing the intersections of sexual abuse with other harms
- Shifting attitudes and strengthening community prevention
- A long overdue focus on intra-familial sexual abuse (which makes up the majority of all child sexual abuse)
- Prioritising prevention of harmful sexual behaviour
- Breaking federation gridlock, including embedding truly national child safety standards
- Building a skilled and supported workforce
This is what children, families, and victim survivor communities have been asking for – real investment in prevention and responses to child sexual abuse – not just piecemeal responses after crises occur. The scale of the issue demands national commitment and long-term, meaningful investment and action. Every child deserves safety, dignity and the opportunity to thrive.
