Child abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect as well as children experiencing adult domestic violence.
1 National figures reflect high levels of child abuse in Australia.
2 Sixty-two per cent of Australians have experienced child abuse and neglect and 40% of 16–24-year-olds have experienced more than one type of abuse.
3 The prevalence of sexual and emotional abuse is higher among girls compared to boys, with rates of sexual abuse reported at 37% for girls and 19% for boys, and rates of emotional abuse at 36% for girls and 25% for boys.
4
Child abuse is most commonly perpetrated by someone within the family, or by a person known to the child.
1 Children less than one year of age are particularly vulnerable, especially to physical abuse and poor attachment to parents.
1 Child abuse is associated with immediate and long-term health problems including in mental health, physical health and health risk behaviours, and increased use of health services.
2 People who have experienced child abuse and neglect are two times more likely to have had six or more visits to a GP in a 12-month period.
2
Bullying in children and young people has been defined as ‘any unwanted aggressive behaviour(s) by a peer or sibling that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated’.5 Bullying can be direct (physical or verbal) or indirect (relational/social, social exclusion, spreading rumours, psychological/stalking, cyberbullying). It is also common and harmful, with up to half of children experiencing bullying at some stage.6,7 Bullying can result in significant increases in behavioural and mental health problems, including suicide.8,9
Sibling bullying can start in toddlers (typically aged 2–6 years) and is common between the ages of six and nine years. Sibling bullying can involve two-way sibling bullying, with both parties being a bully and a victim.1