Help for professionals

We support any professional who is concerned about child sexual abuse and how to prevent it. This includes professionals working with:

• Adults concerned about their own sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children
• Adults concerned about someone else’s sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children
• Children who are showing signs of sexual abuse and exploitation or harmful sexual behaviour
• Victim-survivors of child sexual abuse

We recognise that professionals who work with children and families are sometimes expected to have all the answers. We know that this isn’t always the case. Talking through your concerns or questions with dedicated professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse prevention can help you navigate this difficult topic.

Working with adults who are concerned about their own sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children

This includes people working in the criminal justice system, health services, private psychologists or any related field.

If someone you are working with has disclosed that they have sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children, then you may have lots of questions about what this means and what to do next. Don’t worry, you do not have to navigate this alone.

Our trained and experienced helpline practitioners can provide guidance to help you navigate complex situations safely by:

• Facilitating discussion and exploration around risk and safeguarding
• Providing practical tips and guidance for working with your client
• Offering clear advice and suitable next steps
• Directing to alternative sources of information and guidance
• Connecting clients with relevant follow-up services and resources
• Offering ongoing support and guidance for you as the professional

You can call us on 1800 01 1800 to discuss your concerns. This helpline is anonymous and free.

When supporting an adult who has concerns about their sexual thoughts or behaviour, it can help to consider the following:

Offending history

• Has the client disclosed offending behaviour?
• Does the client have a history of offending against a child?
• Is the client known to the police?
• Are you aware of your reporting responsibilities?

Child protection concerns

• Does the client have a sexual attraction to children?
• Do they work with, live with or have supervision of children?
• Do they have a relationship with anyone who regularly has a child in their care?
• Do they have sexual fantasies or a sexual attraction towards a child they know?

Disclosure and awareness

• Have they expressed motivation to manage these thoughts?
• Does anyone else know about what the client has disclosed? Have they told another professional?
• Does the client understand the harms of abuse?
• In addition to professional guidance, there are resources your clients can access independently. You can refer clients to our helpline and our self-help modules if they are concerned about their online or offline behaviour. For concerns about offline behaviour, you can direct them to the relevant information on our website.

Working with adults concerned about someone else’s sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children

If someone you are supporting has shared concerns about another adult’s behaviour towards children, you may have questions about what the situation means and how best to respond. These conversations can be complex and emotionally challenging – both for the person seeking support and for the professionals working alongside them.

You do not have to navigate this alone.

Our trained and experienced helpline practitioners provide trauma-informed, prevention-focused guidance to help you respond safely and confidently by:

• Providing practical advice for supporting adults who are worried about someone else
• Helping explore and clarify behaviours that may indicate risk to children
• Offering guidance on safeguarding and appropriate next steps
• Supporting discussion around child protection considerations
• Directing to relevant information, services, and resources
• Offering ongoing consultation and support for you as the professional

You can call us on 1800 01 1800 to discuss your concerns. This helpline is anonymous and free.

In addition to professional consultation, we can support your client directly. Adults who are worried about a friend or family member’s behaviour around children – including those who have been told about concerning behaviour, or where someone has been investigated or arrested for a child sexual abuse offence – can call our helpline anonymously to discuss their concerns and explore their options.

For partners and family members affected by a someone else’s behaviour, PartnerSpeak offers specialised peer support for non-offending partners, family members, and others impacted by a person’s involvement in child sexual abuse or child exploitation material.

Working with children who are showing signs of sexual abuse and exploitation or harmful sexual behaviour

If a child or young person you are supporting is showing signs that something may not be right, you may have questions about what the behaviours mean and how best to respond. Concerns about possible sexual abuse or exploitation can feel complex and confronting, particularly when signs are subtle or unclear. It is important to trust your gut, and access support about protective next steps. You do not have to navigate this alone.

You can call us on 1800 01 1800 to discuss your concerns. This helpline is anonymous and free.

For further guidance, see our pages on recognising when a child or young person may have been abused or exploited and understanding and responding to a child or young person’s sexual behaviour.

Supporting victim-survivors of child sexual abuse

If someone you are working with has disclosed experiences of child sexual abuse – whether recent or from earlier in life – you may have questions about how best to respond and support them. These conversations can be deeply sensitive and require a trauma-informed approach that prioritises safety, choice, and wellbeing. You do not have to navigate this alone.

Many victim-survivors live with the impacts of abuse for years before speaking about their experiences. Disclosure may occur unexpectedly, and the effects of abuse can emerge at different stages of life. Providing calm, supportive and informed responses can play an important role in helping people feel believed and supported.

You can also visit National Office for Child Safety’s page on responding to disclosures of child sexual abuse.

You can call us on 1800 01 1800 to discuss your concerns. This helpline is anonymous and free.

People respond to abuse in many different ways, and there is no single or “correct” response. Some individuals may appear to cope day to day, while others may experience distress, confusion, or difficulty making sense of what has happened. A trauma-informed response recognises that reactions are varied and that healing looks different for everyone.

Professionals can support victim-survivors by:

• Listening without judgement and believing disclosures
• Avoiding blame or pressure to share more than they wish
• Respecting autonomy and pacing conversations safely
• Providing clear information about support options
• Supporting access to appropriate specialist services

In addition to professional support, victim-survivors may benefit from connecting with specialist services that provide counselling, advocacy, and recovery-focused support. Encouraging access to trusted services can help individuals receive ongoing care when they are ready.

For a list of additional services and organisations that victim-survivors can contact directly, visit our Victim-survivors page.