Earlier this year, Jesuit Social Services was invited to make a submission to the Queensland Government’s review of system responses to child sexual abuse. The review was established following the sentencing of Ashley Paul Griffith, who last year pleaded guilty to more than 300 charges committed in daycares in Brisbane and Italy over a period spanning almost two decades.
This case, as well as the recent charges against childcare worker Joshua Brown in Victoria, have caused serious distress in the community and reignited national discussions about protecting children in childcare settings. This is an important moment to consider what actions can be taken to build child safe organisations and workforces, and prevent abuse before it occurs.
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The submission makes 10 recommendations, drawing on Jesuit Social Services’ work delivering the child sexual abuse prevention program Stop It Now!, developing the Worried About Sex and Pornography Project (WASAPP) for children and young people, and our research into child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence with the University of New South Wales.
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The recommendations encompass actions that can be taken by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, including in relation to:
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ensuring child safe organisations and workforces,
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public education and awareness campaigns,
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early intervention initiatives for people concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children, and
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obligations on technology platforms to disrupt and deter child sexual offending.
Strong child safeguarding practices and early intervention can prevent child sexual abuse. It is critical that the learnings from this review are used to strengthen child safety practices across all organisations that work with children, across Queensland and nationally.
