Child Abuse

The abuse of children is a blight on society. Recent revelations about the sexual abuse of children, even by some people or ministers/priests within the church, have highlighted the problem.

Child pornography is another blight - it abuses children. Diligence by police and authorities has led to arrests around the world.

As Christians, we must protect children from abuse. We condemn the abuse of children. In addition we must maintain the highest standards when investigating claims of abuse. Such claims need to be investigated impartially, and handed to police for thorough investigation. Cover-ups of alleged abuse of children - or of adults - is totally unacceptable.

Australian statistics

Data on child abuse is collected by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a federal government agency...

Abuse is listed under various categories - physical, sexual and emotional, as well as neglect. 

The recent AIHW reports are listed below. New reports are usually released around the end of January each year. For previous editions, visit the publication list.

Child abuse data...

Child Protection Australia 2005 - 2006
Released in February 2007.
The 2005-2006 Report on child abuse in Australia has been released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - a federal government agency.

The statistics show the various types of abuse - physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, across all states and territories for the year 2005 - 2006.
The instance of reported and substantiated abuse is increasing - partly due to new legislation in some states and higher awareness of the issue.
The Report finds - see Family type P 30 - that a child is LEAST likely to be abused if living with their biological INTACT family of mum and dad.

Lone parent (mother, followed by father) families have the highest risk factor for abuse. 

Child Protection Australia - 2006-2007 
Click here for the home page for the Report. 

Child Protection Australia - 2007-2008
Released in 2009. Home page for the Report - click here.
Summary - click here.
Full Report- 524 KB, pdf: - Child Protection Australia - 2007-2008

Child Protection Australia - 2008-2009
Released in January 2010.

The report reveals that substantiated cases of child abuse are rising with a big increase in the Northern Territory.
Homepage for the Report - click here.
Summary - click here.
Full report(597 KB, pdf) - click here.

Media reports - January 2010:
Indigenous children over-represented in child protection system
ABC Online - ‎Jan 20, 2010‎
New figures show the number of children in the care and protection system has increased by nearly 10 per cent since 2008.
Nearly 35,500 children were placed under protection orders last year and more than 34,000 were placed in out-of-home care.
New South Wales saw a 12 per cent rise in the number of children placed in care - the biggest increase in the country.

Kate Valentine from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be over-represented in the child protection system. She says Indigenous children are eight times more likely to be placed on a protection order than their non-indigenous counterparts. They are also nine times more likely to be cared for by people outside their immediate family.

Child abuse on the rise
Herald Sun - ‎Jan 20, 2010‎
CHILD abuse and neglect in Australia has increased over the past year, new data shows. Child protection authorities received more than 207000 notifications ...

More children are being reported abused or neglected
Sydney Morning Herald - ‎Jan 20, 2010‎
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found more than 34000 children were taken from their parents and placed in out-of-home care in 2008-09, ...