NCJ Number
186920
Date Published
2001
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides an overview of the nature, prevalence, and response to child abuse in Australia.
Abstract
Following a demographic profile of Australia, this chapter provides a brief case study of an inept response to a child abuse situation in an Australian jurisdiction. A discussion of child abuse prevention and child protection in Australia is followed by an overview of data on the prevalence of child abuse in that country. Other sections of the chapter address local organizations and child protection, statutory definitions of child abuse, child-abuse investigation procedures, the history of child abuse and the response to it in Australia, legal innovations, and systemic failures. Overall, mainstream Australian society recognizes that child abuse and neglect are more common than previously acknowledged; and there is a growing realization that such abuse endangers the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development of affected children. Nevertheless, the issue has become highly politicized, and all programs for the protection of children have been overhauled. In particular, sexual abuse of the young has had a major impact on public debate, and many of the new protection programs focus on such abuse. The main objectives of the National Child Abuse Prevention Strategy, which was introduced in 1993, are to identify and change attitudes and behavior that are harmful to children, identify and change factors that contribute to harmful parenting practices, and teach children to form nonexploitative relationships and to develop their emotional care and personal safety skills. 17 references