Along with the physical, psychological and social changes that children experience as part of growing up, children go through stages of sexual development and display sexual behaviours as part of their normal childhood growth and change. A child’s sexual development includes curiosity about the physical changes in their body as well as changes in their sexual knowledge, understanding and behaviours.
A child’s sexual behaviour is considered concerning or problematic if their behaviours occur outside their expected developmental stage, or where they may be developmentally appropriate but are occurring in inappropriate environments. Some children, particularly younger children, might engage in inappropriate sexual behaviour without intending to cause harm, or without understanding the harm they could cause to others.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse described children’s harmful sexual behaviours as an umbrella term to cover all behaviours in children under 18 years across a spectrum of sexual behaviour problems. These include behaviours that harm only the child displaying them to those that are coercive, sexually aggressive and predatory towards others.
An emerging area of children’s harmful sexual behaviours relates to the use of digital technologies. This includes making and distributing sexually explicit images of children and young people as well as changing attitudes arising from easier access to online pornography.
A number of support services are listed below.
Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Services and Indigenous Healing Services
Show moreChild Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Services and Indigenous Healing Services provide prevention education in schools/community settings and education sessions for parents/carers, tailored to local needs are also provided.
Prevention education in schools/community settings and education sessions for parents/carers, tailored to local needs are also provided.
The Indigenous Healing Services take an Aboriginal perspective on health and wellbeing, encompassing physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing to provide a holistic service response for vulnerable Aboriginal children and families.
View details for services available in metropolitan and regional areas.
Child Protection Unit – Perth Children’s Hospital
Show moreThe Child Protection Unit is a hospital-based service providing medical, forensic, social work and therapeutic services for children and their families.
Disability Support Services at Sexual Health Quarters
Show moreSHQ counsellors and psychologists specialise in sexuality, relationships and protective education. We also offer education and support to parents, carers, community groups, school students, professionals, and anyone with an interest in disability and sexual health. We are registered with the NDIS, we also offer services to people who are at risk, are vulnerable or need immediate support. This program is supported by the Department of Communities, and you do not need to be with the NDIS to access our services. Our phone lines are open 8.45am to 4.15pm, Monday to Friday.
Phone: (08) 9227 6414
SECCA
Show moreSECCA provides specialist counselling and education in the area of human relationships and sexuality to people who have a disability, their family and significant carers.
Phone: 9420 7226
Western Australia Police Force
Show moreResources
Show moreGrowing and Developing Healthy Relationships
Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships is a long-standing educational curriculum and teaching resource funded by the Western Australian Department of Health. The website is designed to support WA teachers, school nurses and schools to provide positive and comprehensive sexual health and relationships education.
Raising Children
Raising Children is an Australian Government funded source of educational tools and resources for parents and carers covering a range of advice from pregnancy to adolescence. Research-based material is provided on a range of topics spanning child development, behaviour, health, nutrition and fitness, play and learning, connecting and communicating, school and education, entertainment and technology, sleep and safety.
Talk soon. Talk often.
Talk soon. Talk often. A guide for parents and carers to talk to their children about sex and sexual development.
Produced by the Western Australian Department of Health the guide recognises that parents and carers are the primary sex educators for their children and supports them to lay the foundations for well-adjusted, confident and healthy children to experience positive, respectful relationships.
Yarning quiet ways is based on Talk soon. Talk often. and was developed in consultation with Aboriginal families. It provides support for Aboriginal parents and carers to help yarning about sex and relationships.
