Protective Behaviours

• 96% of abused children are abused by somebody they know (Aust. Inst. Of Health and Welfare 2000 – 2001)

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused in Australia before they turn 18 (Aust. Inst. Of Criminology 2004)

• We cannot be with children 24 hours a day to protect them• We need to empower children with the right to feel safe and

give them the skills to keep themselves safe• Only 3% of children will report their abuse (Savi Report 2004)• Students with a disability are at even greater risk.

Why teach Protective Behaviours?

TOUCHING CONTACT FOR THE CHILD WITHOUT A DISABILITY

• Mother and father• Siblings• Members of extended family• Teacher or caregiver• Sports coach on rare occasions• Family doctor on rare occasions• Dentist on rare occasions

Reference. Freda Briggs, Developing Personal Safety Skills in Children with Disabilities, 1995

TOUCHING CONTACT FOR CHILDREN SEVERE DISABILITIES

• Mother / father• Siblings• Extended family members• Family doctors• Physiotherapists• Occupational therapists• Care assistants • Teachers• Social workers• Speech therapists• Hearing therapist (deaf children)• Educational psychologists• Dentists and dental nurses• Taxi and bus drivers• Ambulance drivers• Others who specialize in specific disabilities

Reference. Freda Briggs, Developing Personal Safety Skills in Children with Disabilities, 1995

Categories of Abuse

• Physycal• Sexual• Emotional• Neglect

Theme 1

• “We all have the right to feel safe all the time.”

What are the most important words?

Create a poster that could be used to teach this theme

What should we teach?

Feelings– Yes/Safe/Comfortable Feelings and No/Unsafe/Uncomfortable Feelings– Feeling Safe and Feeling Unsafe

SafetySafety Continuum– Safe– Fun to feel scared– Risking on Purpose– Unsafe

Safe = Choice + Control + Time limit

What should we teach?

• Early Warning Signs What are they? Different for different people

• Dobbing as opposed to telling If you or somebody else is unsafe of feels unsafe it is telling not dobbing

Theme 2

“We can talk to someone about anything”

What should we teach?

• Networks• Persistence• Public and Private• Circles• Different “NO’s”• Three Questions to stay safe

– Do I get a Yes or No Feeling?– Does an adult know where I am?– Can I get help if I need it?

• Secrets

SECCA Sexuality Concepts Resource

Resources• Safe4Kids – Holly-Ann Martin

www.safe4kids.com.au Phone: 0422 971 189

• Protective Behaviours WA www.protectivebehaviourswa.org.au Phone: 0409 071 068

• SECCA (Sexuality Education Counselling and Consultancy Agency) www.secca.org.au Phone: 9420 7226

• People 1st Program (PIP) www.people1stprogramme.com.au Phone: 9227 6414

• Family Planning Association, Queensland www.fpq.com.au Phone: 07 3250 0240