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Identify signs of child abuse in early childhood

Recognise the signs of child abuse, understand definitions, and know the physical and behavioural indicators.

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Physical child abuse

Physical child abuse is the non-accidental infliction of physical injury or harm of a child.

Examples of physical abuse may include:

Physical indicators of physical child abuse

Physical indicators of physical child abuse include (but are not limited to):

Behavioural indicators of physical child abuse

In an infant or toddler:

In all children, infants and toddlers:

Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is when a person uses power or authority over a child to involve them in sexual activity.

This can include a wide range of physical and non-contact sexual activity.

Physical sexual contact:

Non-contact offences:

Child sexual abuse does not always involve force. In some circumstances a child may be manipulated into believing that they have brought the abuse on themselves, or that the abuse is an expression of love through a process of grooming.

Child sexual exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is also a form of sexual abuse where offenders use their power (physical, financial, or emotional) over a child to sexually or emotionally abuse them.

It often involves situations and relationships where young people receive something (for example: food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) in return for participating in sexual activities.

Child sexual exploitation can occur in person or online, and sometimes the child may not even realise they are a victim.

Those most at risk of child sexual abuse

Any child can be victim of sexual abuse, however children who are vulnerable, isolated, or have a disability are disproportionately abused and are much more likely to become victim.

Physical indicators of child sexual abuse

Physical Indicators of sexual abuse may include (but are not limited to):

Behavioural indicators of child sexual abuse

The behavioural indicators of sexual abuse may be (but are not limited to) for an infant or toddler:

In all children, infants and toddlers:

For more information about age appropriate sexual behaviour visit the Department of Health.

Identify perpetrators of child sexual abuse

In addition to identifying the physical and behavioural signs of sexual abuse within children, you can play a critical role in identifying signs that a staff member or member of the community may be engaging in child sexual abuse, or grooming a child for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

Most critically you must follow the 4 critical actions if you:

You must report suspected child sexual abuse, or risk of abuse regardless of any concerns about the risk to the reputation of the suspected perpetrator or service. Your report could prove critical to protecting children in your care, and a failure to report can result in criminal charges.

Common perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is most commonly perpetrated by someone who is known to, and trusted by the child. And often someone highly trusted within their family, communities, schools or other institutions.

Perpetrators can include (but are not limited to):

Unwanted sexual behaviour toward a child by a child 10 years or over can constitute a sexual offence.

Behavioural indicators for perpetrators

In many cases the signs that an adult is sexually abusing or grooming a child with the intent of sexually abusing them may not be obvious. However there are a number of signs to look for.

Behaviour indicators for perpetrators of child sexual abuse include (but are not limited to) the following people.

Family member:

Service staff member, contractor, volunteer, coach or other carer with any child:

With older children:

Grooming

Grooming is when a person engages in predatory conduct to prepare a child for sexual activity at a later time. Grooming can include communicating and/or attempting to befriend or establish a relationship or other emotional connection with the child or their parent or carer.

Sometimes it is hard to see when someone is being groomed until after they have been sexually abused, because some grooming behaviour can look like ’normal’ caring behaviour.

Examples of grooming behaviours may include:

Online grooming

Online grooming is a criminal offence and occurs when an adult uses electronic communication (including social media) in a predatory fashion to try to lower a child’s inhibitions, or heighten their curiosity regarding sex, with the aim of eventually meeting them in person for the purposes of sexual activity.

This can include online chats, sexting, and other interactions. Any incidents of suspected grooming must be reported by following the 4 critical actions.

Online grooming can also precede online child exploitation, a form of sexual abuse where adults use the internet or a mobile to communicate sexual imagery with or of a child (via a webcam). Any incidents of suspected online child exploitation must be reported.

Behavioural indicators of child grooming

Behavioural indicators that a child may be subject to grooming include (but are not limited to):

Emotional child abuse

Emotional child abuse occurs when a child is repeatedly rejected, isolated or frightened by threats, or by witnessing family violence.

It also includes hostility, derogatory name-calling and put-downs, and persistent coldness from a person, to the extent that the child suffers, or is likely to suffer, emotional or psychological harm to their physical or developmental health. Emotional abuse may occur with or without other forms of abuse.

Physical indicators of emotional child abuse

Physical indicators of emotional abuse include (but are not limited to):

Behavioural indicators of emotional child abuse

Behavioural indicators of emotional abuse include (but are not limited to):

In an infant or toddler:

In all children, infants and toddlers:

Neglect

Neglect is a failure to provide the child with adequate care or support to the extent that the health or physical development of the child is significantly impaired or placed at serious risk.

Neglect can include:

In some circumstances the neglect of a child:

This includes low-to-moderate concerns for the wellbeing of a child, such as:

Both forms of neglect must be responded to through the 4 critical actions for early childhood services.

Physical indicators of neglect

Physical indicators of neglect include (but are not limited to):

Behavioural indicators of neglect

Behaviour indicators of neglect include (but are not limited to):

In an infant or toddler:

In all children, infants and toddlers:

Family violence

Family violence is behaviour towards a family member that may include:

A child’s exposure to family violence constitutes child abuse. This exposure can be very harmful and may result in physical harm and long-term physical, psychological and emotional trauma. Action must be taken to protect the child, and to mitigate or limit their trauma.

Research shows that during pregnancy and when families have very young babies:

The longer that a child experiences or is exposed to family violence, the more harmful it is. This is why if you suspect that a child is exposed to, or at risk of being exposed to family violence, you must follow the 4 critical actions for early childhood services.

Family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

In identifying family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities it’s important to recognise that:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence occurs in a historical context of colonisation, dispossession, and the loss of culture. This has resulted in the breakdown of kinship systems and of traditional law, racism, and previous government policies of forced removal of children from families.

However, this should never detract from the legitimacy of the survivor’s experience of violence, or your obligation to report and respond to any suspected family violence.

Physical indicators of family violence

Physical indicators of family violence may include (but are not limited to):

Behavioural indicators of family violence

Behavioural indicators of family violence may include (but are not limited to):

In an infant or toddler:

In all children, infants and toddlers:

Children exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviour

Inappropriate sexual behaviour

Inappropriate sexual behaviour includes:

Problem sexual behaviour

Problem sexual behaviour is the term used by the Victorian government and funded service providers to describe concerning sexual behaviour exhibited by children under the age of 10 years. Children under 10 years of age are deemed unable to consent to any form of sexual activity and cannot be held criminally responsible for their behaviour.

Sexually abusive behaviour

Sexually abusive behaviour is the term used by the Victorian Government and funded service providers to describe concerning sexual behaviour by children aged 10 years or older and under 15 years of age.

A child is considered to exhibit sexually abusive behaviour when they have used power, authority, or status to engage another party in sexual activity that is unwanted or the other party is unable to give consent.

A child who engages in sexually abusive behaviour may be in need of therapeutic treatment. It may also be an indicator that the child has been or is being sexually abused by others.

Sexually abusive behaviour may amount to a sexual offence. A sexual offence includes rape, sexual assault, indecent acts and other unwanted sexualised touching, all of which are offences under the Crimes Act 1958 .

It may be difficult to determine the nature of children’s sexual behaviour, including whether the behaviour:

Under Victorian Law:

Most critically you must follow the 4 critical actions if:

Reporting a child in need of protection or therapeutic treatment

Any member of the public is able to report concerns about inappropriate sexual behaviour to DHHS Child Protection or Victoria Police.

In the case of sexually abusive behaviour by a child aged between 10 – 15 years of age, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Child Protection may determine that the child may be in need of therapeutic treatment. This therapeutic treatment can be provided on a voluntary basis, with the consent and support of parents / carers; or it can be ordered by a court via the making of a therapeutic treatment order.

DFFH Child Protection may make an application to the children’s court for a therapeutic treatment order if it is assessed that:

A therapeutic treatment order must require the child to attend an appropriate treatment program to address their sexually abusive behaviours. It may also direct the child’s parent(s) or carer(s) to take any necessary steps to enable the child to participate in the treatment.

Reporting to DFFH Child Protection in relation to a child who may be in need of therapeutic treatment does not replace your requirement to report possible sexual offending to Victoria Police as per the 4 critical actions.

Actions

When identifying child abuse, it is critical to remember that:

If physical or behavioural indicators lead you to suspect that a child has, or is being abused, or is at risk of abuse, you must respond as soon as practicable by following the 4 critical actions for early childhood services.

you believe that a child is not being abused, but you still hold concerns for their safety or wellbeing, to determine who to consult with, when to make a report and when to engage other wellbeing professionals, visit Responding to concerns about the wellbeing of a child.

Support

If you need to talk to someone, it is recommended that you speak to your manager or service provider about arranging appropriate support.

You can also talk to your General Practitioner (GP) or another allied health professional, and report historical or current experiences of abuse to Victoria Police.

You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat to someone online at Lifeline.

Early childhood education and care

Updated 23 March 2026

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