Child sexual abuse prevention

This program is designed to empower and educate children to understand and communicate their right to bodily autonomy and equip communities to prevent child sexual abuse.

Description

This program is designed to empower and educate children to understand and communicate their right to bodily autonomy and equip communities to prevent child sexual abuse.  

For each year level, the program is underpinned by our 10 learning objectives and is tailored to be age appropriate.  

As the year level increases, so does the scope and depth of the content. Through games, group work, stories, and guided discussion, the children are encouraged to reflect upon and explore what bodily autonomy means. 

Using age-appropriate songs, activities, stories, games and group conversations, children will explore these ten learning objectives. Online & technology safety is embedded across the program. 

  • Identify and clearly communicate emotions in themselves and others 
  • Learn their body's 'early warning signs' that tells them something doesn't feel safe 
  • Understand that humans have different fear responses: fight, flight and freeze
  • Assertively communicate their right to bodily autonomy 
  • Identify their Safe Adults using our award-winning felt finger puppets 
  • Know that their body belongs to them, and nobody has the right to touch it without permission 
  • Accurately name public, private and personal body parts using words that health care professionals would use 
  • Understand that sometimes adults make decisions about a child's body for health, hygiene and safety reasons.
  • Understand the difference between a surprise and a secret
  • Adults and older children's behaviour can sometimes be 'tricky

Year levels, duration and topics covered

Early Learning and Primary School

Early Childhood  (3 – 4 yo) 
2 x 45-minute sessions 

Primary School 
F - Year 2: 2 x 1 hour 
Year 3-6: 3 x 1 hr 

  • Identify and clearly communicate emotions in themselves and others 
  • Identifying early warning signs 
  • Understand fear responses; fight, flight & freeze 
  • Assertive communication 
  • Private, personal, and public body parts 
  • The difference between secrets and surprises 
  • Their body belongs to them 
  • What are necessary touches/decisions; health, hygiene and safety 
  • Identifying five safe adults 

 

Parent / Carer

2-hour workshop 

Our own research determined that 77% of parents and carers want support in abuse prevention strategies.

This two-hour practical workshop empowers families with safety tools that can be used within the home, school and community.  

Body Safety Australia is committed to partnering with families and communities to prevent childhood sexual abuse and to support children in enjoying healthy, respectful relationships now and in the future. Our workshops for parents and carers aim to inform you of what your child will be learning with us and how you can keep the conversation going at home.  

  • Childhood sexual abuse: the risk, myths and misconceptions 
  • Ten key areas of body safety including consent, assertive communication and identifying trusted adults 
  • Identifying grooming behaviours 
  • Age-appropriate play 
  • Digital technology in CSA 
  • Practical body safety strategies to use at home 
  • Supporting the at-risk child, including self-care

Professional Development

For Facilitators, Teachers and Professionals

Introductory PD  
1 x 2 –hour workshop 

The principles of body safety play an essential role in developing safe and respectful spaces in and outside of the classroom. Our protective behaviours professional development covers the following topics: 

  • Creating strategies for the participation and empowerment of children 
  • Supporting community solutions and creating partnerships in prevention 
  • Understanding the complexity of childhood sexual abuse: myths, facts, indicators and risk factors 
  • Embedding the 10 key learning areas of abuse prevention 
  • Modelling child safe practices (Victorian Child Safe Standards & National Child Safe Standards) 
  • Understanding age-appropriate behaviour including understanding the signs of possible sexual abuse 
  • Hearing and handling disclosures, including self-care 

 

Full day  
1 X 5-hour workshop OR 
2 x 2-hour workshops  

The principles of body safety play an essential role in developing safe and respectful spaces in and outside of the classroom. Our protective behaviours professional development covers the following topics: 

  • Creating strategies for the participation and empowerment of children 
  • Supporting community solutions and creating partnerships in prevention 
  • Understanding the complexity of childhood sexual abuse: myths, facts, indicators and risk factors 
  • Embedding the 10 key learning areas of abuse prevention 
  • Modelling child safe practices (Victorian Child Safe Standards & National Child Safe Standards) 
  • Planning age-appropriate child safe lessons and activities 
  • Understanding age-appropriate behaviour including understanding the signs of possible sexual abuse 
  • Understanding the role of technology in childhood sexual abuse  
  • Perpetrators; profile of a typical abuser, typical pattern of grooming
  • Hearing and handling disclosures, including self-care 
  • Ensuring culturally sensitive and inclusive solutions for your community 

Both introduction and full day professional development courses meet the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST): 1.3, 2.3, 2.6, 3.7, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 6.2, 7.2 and 7.3

As part of the body safety suite, we also offer an advanced professional development program that builds on existing knowledge and provides a deep dive into areas such as child safe standards/principles and supporting staff, parents, carers, children, and young people in respectful online communication. 

Links & Downloads

Further Information

We're here to help assist you. Simply call us on (03) 9471 2247 or fill in our contact form.

Have a question about this program?

Contact us today for more information.

Body Safety Australia acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual, and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Body Safety Australia is a child-safe organisation. We are committed to keeping children and young people safe by empowering the whole community in prevention education. We value and empower children and young people's voices in our programs and create a safe space that supports all persons to disclose. To read our full commitment to children, click here. If you have a Child Safety concern, click here.

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Location

Ground Floor
262-266 Victoria St
North Melbourne, 3051
VIC, Australia

Office Hours
  • Mon  – Fri
    8:30 am – 5 pm
Contact

Contact Form

Ph: (03) 9471 2247

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