Contents
Problem sexualbehaviour1
What are the signs?
How can I tell if my child, or a child I know, is exhibiting problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour?
Children are sexual beings. At different ages and stages children engage in a healthy expression of sexuality consistent with their stage of sexual development.
However some children and young people display problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour toward others.
This information sheet outlines age-appropriate and concerning sexual behaviours for children and young people up to and including 17 years of age.
What treatment is available?
Therapeutic treatment services are available throughout Victoria to help families and carers to understand and support a child or young person to change their behaviour.
Therapeutic treatment services involve working with the child or young person, their family, carers, school and community. Servicesprovide an assessment and developmentally appropriate response. There is no cost to families.
What should I do if I am concerned?
This information sheet includes treatment options, contact details for treatment agencies across Victoria and how to obtain further information.
Sexual behaviours of children
Infant, toddler and preschool 0–4 years
Age appropriate sexual behaviours
•Touching or rubbing their own genitals.
•Enjoying being nude.
•Showing others their genitals.
•Playing doctors and nurses.
•Playing mummies and daddies.
•Touching or looking at the private parts of other children or familiar adults.
•Using slang words/dirty language for bathroom and sexual functions, talking about ‘sexing’.
Concerning sexual behaviours
•Persistent masturbation that does not cease when told to stop.
•Forcing another child to engage in sexual play.
•Sexualising play with dolls such as ‘humping’ a teddy bear.
•Touching the private parts of adults not known to the child.
•Chronic peeping behaviour
Very concerning sexual behaviours
•Persistently touching or rubbing themselves to the exclusion of normal childhood activities; hurting their own genitals by rubbing or touching.
•Simulating sex with other children, with or without clothes on.
•Oral sex.
•Sexual play involving forceful anal or vaginal penetration with objects.
Source: Johnson 1999, Johnson and Doonan 2006
Early school years 5–7 years
Age appropriate sexual behaviours
•Self-touching including masturbating.
•‘Show me yours/I’ll show you mine’ with same-age children.
•Hearing and telling age-appropriate dirty jokes.
•Playing mummies and daddies.
•Kissing/holding hands.
•Mimicking or practicing observed behaviours such as pinching a bottom.
Concerning sexual behaviours
•Continually rubbing/touching their own genitals in public.
•Persistent use of dirty words.
•Wanting to play sex games with much older or younger children.
•Continually wanting to touch the private parts of other children.
•Chronic peeping behaviour.
Very concerning sexual behaviours
•Touching or rubbing themselves persistently in private or public to the exclusion of normal childhood activities.
•Rubbing their genitals on other people.
•Forcing other children to play sexual games.
•Sexual knowledge too advanced for their age.
•Talking about sex and sexual acts habitually.
Source: Johnson 1999, Johnson and Doonan 2006
Pre-adolescent 8–12 years
Age appropriate sexual behaviours
•Occasional masturbation.
•Show me yours/I’ll show you mine with peers.
•Kissing and flirting.
•Genital or reproduction conversation with peers.
•Dirty words or jokes with a peer group.
Concerning sexual behaviours
•Attempting to expose others’ genitals.
•Sexual knowledge too great for their age once the context is considered.
•Pre-occupation with masturbation.
•Single occurrence of peeping, exposing, obscenities, pornographic interest (sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines).
•Simulating foreplay or intercourse with peers with clothes on.
Very concerning sexual behaviours
•Compulsive masturbation, including task interruption to masturbate.
•Repeated or chronic peeping, exposing, obscenities.
•Chronic pornographic interest (child pornography*, sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines).
•Degradation/humiliation of self-using sexual themes.
•Degradation/humiliation of others using sexual themes.
•Touching genitals of others without permission*.
•Sexually explicit threats – written or verbal*.
•Forced exposure of others’ genitals*.
•Simulating intercourse with peers with clothes off.
•Penetration of dolls, children or animals*.
*For children aged 10 – 12 these behaviours may constitute criminal offences such as indecent assault, indecent act, or sexual assault (common law).
Source: Johnson 1999, Johnson and Doonan 2006, Ryan 2000
Sexual behaviours of young people
Adolescent 13–18 years
Age appropriate sexual behaviours
•Sexually explicit conversation with peers.
•Obscenities and jokes within the cultural norm.
•Sexual innuendo and flirting.
•Solitary masturbation.
•Kissing, hugging, holding hands.
•Foreplay with mutual informed consent and peer-aged partner.
•Sexual intercourse plus full range of sexual activity.
Concerning sexual behaviours
•Sexual preoccupation or anxiety.
•Pornographic interest (sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines).
•Promiscuity.
•Verbal sexually aggressive themes or obscenities.
•Invasion of others’ body space.
Very concerning sexual behaviours
•Compulsive masturbation (especially chronic or public*).
•Degradation/humiliation of self-using sexual themes.
•Degradation/humiliation of others using sexual themes.
•Chronic preoccupation with sexually aggressive pornography (sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines), child pornography*.
•Attempting to expose others’ genitals.
•Touching genitals of others without permission*.
•Sexually explicit threats – written or verbal*.
•Obscene phone calls, exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual harassment*.
•Sexual contact with significantly younger people*.
•Sexual contact with animals*.
•Forced penetration*.
*These behaviours are considered criminal and may include offences such as sexual penetration of a child under 16, indecent assault, indecent act and assault.
Source: Ryan 2000
Treatment for problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour
Treatment services are available where there is concern about problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour.
Therapeutic treatment services
Therapeutic treatment services are available throughout Victoria to help families and carers to understand and support the child or young person to change their behaviour.
Therapeutic treatment services involve working with the child or young person, their family, carers, school and community services to provide an assessment and developmentally appropriate response. There is no cost to families.
Treatment aims
The treatment aims to:
•prevent further occurrence of the behaviour
•engage the child or young person to address the impact of the behaviour
•improve the wellbeing of all affected family members.
Assessment and treatment
The needs of each individual and family referred to a service are assessed and a treatment plan is prepared. Treatment may include individual work with:
•the child or young person who has engaged in the behaviours
•their parent(s) or carer(s)
•other children affected, including siblings.
Treatment may also include participation in group work and family work. The duration of the treatment will vary according to individual circumstances.
Secondary consultation
Agencies that provide therapeutic treatment services offer secondary consultation to other professionals working with the child or adolescent to enhance their capacity to provide an effective response.
Child protection involvement
Therapeutic treatment service agencies liaise with child protection to address safety concerns as required.
Privacy
Treatment is confidential and file notes are protected under the Evidence Act.However, counsellors are required to report to Child Protection information on a child believed to be in danger of sexual abuse.
Ancillary services
Information and advice
Agencies provide advice to concerned parents, carers, and professionals to distinguish between developmentally appropriate sexual behaviours and sexual behaviour that is of concern. Where appropriate, referral advice is provided.
Counselling and support for victim or survivors
Support services are available for the victim /survivors of the problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour. Victims/survivors can access services without reporting to police. There is no cost for these services.
How can I access treatment services?
Service users
Services are available to people under the age of 15-years-old with problem sexual behaviour or sexually abusive behaviour. Some agencies also offer services for up to and including 17-year-olds.
Therapeutic treatment services respond to the developmental needs of children and young people, including those with:
•learning and language difficulties
•developmental delays
•varying levels of intellectual ability.
Support is provided to parents and carers as part of the service.
Voluntary referrals
Families can contact the therapeutic treatment service directly to discuss concerns about their child.
Health professionals, schools, doctors, community services, child protection or the police can refer families to the service.
Therapeutic Treatment Orders
Children aged 10-14 years may be placed on a Therapeutic Treatment Order or Therapeutic Treatment Placement Order if their family does not ensure access to the treatment available.The order promotes access to and participation in treatment and also applies to the child's family. For further information about therapeutic treatment orders, you can access the following link Therapeutic Treatment [
Terminology
Problem sexual behaviour
This term is used in relation to the behaviours of children with concerning sexual behaviour who are under the age of ten.
Sexually abusive behaviour
This term is used in relation to children or adolescents with concerning or abusive sexual behaviour who are over the age of ten.
Victim/survivor
The term ‘victim/survivor’ emphasises victims’ capacity to survive the experience.
More information
Further information about Therapeutic Treatment Orders and Therapeutic Treatment Placement Orders is available on the Department of Human Services website [
Further information on services available for victims or survivors is also available on the Department of Human Services website [
Contact information
Crisis support
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line is available on 1800 806 292. It is a 24-hour service and callers may choose to remain anonymous.
Other contacts
Details about services available in each region are listed on the following pages of this information sheet. Further details may be accessed on the Department of Human Services website [
Treatment agencies
Agency / Contact detailsAustralian Childhood Foundation
579 Whitehorse Road
Mitcham / Ph: 9874 3922
Website:
Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault
115A Ascot Street
South Ballarat / Ph: 5320 3933
Website:
Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault
291 La Trobe Terrace
Geelong / Ph: 5222 4802
Website:
*Berry Street – Hume
110 Wyndham Street
Shepparton / Ph: 5822 8100
Website:
*Children’s Protection Society
70 Altona Street,
Heidelberg West / Ph: 9450 0900
Website:
Gatehouse Centre
Royal Children’s Hospital,
Flemington Road
Parkville / Ph: 9345 6391
A/H 9345 5522
Website:
Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault
6 Victor Street
Morwell / Ph: 5134 3922
Website:
Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault
48 Wattle Street
Bendigo / Ph: 5441 0430
Website:
Mallee Sexual Assault Unit
Suite 1, 144-146 Lime Avenue
Mildura / Ph: 5025 5400
Website:
*South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault
39A Clow Street
Dandenong
374 Nepean Highway
Frankston
11 Chester Street
East Bentleigh / Ph: 9594 2289
Website:
South Western Centre Against Sexual Assault
299 Koroit Street
Warrnambool / Ph: 5564 4144
Website:
Upper Murray Centre Against Sexual Assault
50 Docker Street
Wangaratta / Ph: 5722 2203
Website:
Wimmera Centre Against Sexual Assault
9 Robinson Street
Horsham / Ph: 5381 9272
Website:
The following agencies offer similar services, however eligibility criteria apply.
Agency / Contact detailsMale Adolescent Program for Positive Sexuality
Adolescent Forensic Health Service
900 Park Street
Parkville / Ph: 9389 4273
Website:
Australian Community Support Organisation
1 Hoddle Street
Richmond / Ph: 9413 7000
Website:
* services for children up to and including 17 years
References
Johnson, TC, 1999, Understanding your child's sexual behaviour,OaklandCalifornia: new harbinger publications.
Johnson, TC and Doonan, R, 2006, Children twelve and younger with sexual behaviour problems what we know in 2005 that we didn't know in 1985.Chapter three in:Longo, RE and Presscott, DS (eds) Current perspective: working with sexually aggressive youth and youth with sexual behaviour problems, NEARI Press, Holyoke, MA.
Ryan, G, 2000, Childhood Sexuality: A decade of Study Part 1 Research and Curriculum DevelopmentChild Abuse and Neglect 24 (1), 33-48, 2000.
Acknowledgements
Barnett, M. Giaquinto, A, Hunter, L and Worth, C 2007, Age appropriate sexual behaviour in children and young people: information booklet for carers and professionals, SECASA and Gatehouse Centre, Melbourne
To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 9096 0000, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or emailAuthorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services May, 2017.
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Problem sexualbehaviour1