Strangers

Contrary to popular belief, 90% of sexual abuse come from people who are known, and only 10% from strangers. Both males and females abuse, but 90% is done by males. 1 in 8 males are also likely to experience sexual abuse, and 1 in 4 for women.

You can not tell by looking at someone that they sexually abuse. People who sexually abuse do not look or dress a certain way.

People that sexually abuse come from various ethnic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

There will be times when adult behaviour around children should cause you concern. Have you ever seen someone playing with a child and felt uncomfortable with it? Maybe you thought 'I'm just overreacting', or 'he/she doesn't really mean that'. Sometimes there will be nothing to worry about. Other times, you should worry.

A time to be especially watchful is when there is a new adult in the household, e.g. step-parent, boarder, baby-sitter.

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• Insisting on hugging, touching, kissing, tickling, wrestling with or holding a child even when the child does not want this affection or attention.
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• Asks lots of questions about the sexuality of a particular child or teenager, e.g. talks repeatedly about the child's developing body or intrudes on normal teenage dating
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• Creates opportunities to get time alone or insists on having time alone with a child or young teenager with little opportunity for another person to interrupt or intervene
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• Spends most of his/her spare time with children or young teenagers and has little interest in spending time with someone his/her own age
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• Buys children or teenagers expensive gives or food or gives them money for no apparent reason
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• Talks about inappropriate sexual behaviour with children or calls them sexual names, even if done in a joking manner
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The risk of being assaulted is significant when there's alcohol or drugs involved. Don't accept drinks with people you don't know, especially if the bottle is open or contained in an unsealed container/glass.

Less likely, but no longer uncommon, is the perpetrator looking for the opportunity to increase someone's alcohol consumption or give them drugs without their consent, with a view to sexually assault.

The range of technology used to conduct sexual abuse continues to grow. The development of technology has changed how offenders access the people they abuse. This is especially true with cell phones and internet use. Even text messages can be sexually abusive.

Online bullying and harassment or stalking online or on mobiles is illegal. If someone is hassling you online or by text, talk to someone like a trusted adult, Netsafe or HELP. 

We know there is a lot of porn online. It's normal to be curious, but remember, it is illegal when:

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• Sending it to someone or making them watch it when they're not into it.
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• If kids are in it. It's child abuse. Report it to an adult or helpline and they can help stop it.
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