In February, the Commissioner ran two Harmful Sexual Behaviours workshops to raise awareness of and advocate for a state-wide approach to responding to HSB. Participants in the workshops included representatives and leaders in Education, Health, Youth Justice, Human Services, SAPOL and DCP, as well as frontline providers and well-renowned researchers and experts in the field. Harmful sexual behaviour is child on child behaviour that is considered to be developmentally harmful. As it is between children it is recognised that there should be a therapeutic, public health approach to addressing this behaviour.
During the first workshop participants were updated on latest research as well as on programs and responses to address HSB. These included the development of stakeholder-led training, what is happening at the national level and what departmental responses are in place. The second workshop was interactive, with participants outlining what needed to happen to develop a state-wide framework and response that would best fit South Australia. Soon after, the Department for Child Protection agreed to lead the development of a framework, ensuring the work undertaken by the Commissioner will be continued.
Read the Commissioner’s Policy Position on Harmful Sexual Behaviours here.
