AASW Webinar Recording | Responding to Young People Who Display Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Child sexual abuse impacts many families that social workers support. Often, we assume that the sexual abuse of a child is caused by another adult. However, research indicates that between 30-60% of child sexual abuse is caused by a young person. The terminology commonly used to describe this is harmful sexual behaviour.

The young people who display this behaviour are varied and diverse, so too are their families. The harmful sexual behaviour itself is also varied; it can range from a one-off incident to highly intrusive violent incidents that may last many years.

How we respond to harmful sexual behaviours is a crucial element of ceasing the behaviour. In recent years evidence-based practice principles have been established to underpin treatment programs, clinical practice and specific approaches used by professionals. However, these practice principles are not only important for experts providing treatment, but also for those professionals who support children, young people, and families when harmful sexual behaviour has occurred.

This webinar provides introductory information for those who wish to understand harmful sexual behaviour and provides some useful strategies to those who support children, young people, families and communities when harmful sexual behaviour has occurred.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse identified nine practice principles that should be considered when responding to harmful sexual behaviours.

This recording explains these principles and elaborates on those that are most relevant to social work practice.

Who should register? Practitioners who work with children and young people who wish to develop their skills and knowledge around harmful sexual behaviours.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand factors that may contribute to harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people.
• Understand the key practice principals for treating young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours.
• Evaluate how specific aspects of best practice principles may apply to their social work practice.
• Implement skills to effectively respond to harmful sexual behaviour in the context of their practice.

AASW Credentials: Child Protection; School