Sexuality Education Urged To Curb Abuse
The Age
Sunday September 5, 1993
Canberra The architects of the first national strategy to prevent child abuse yesterday proposed the mandatory teaching in schools of non-abusive sexuality among children, particularly among boys.
The curriculums should also be devised to suit personal development stages throughout the school years and should be tailored to match learning abilities, they say.
The aim is to develop generations of parents, and adults generally, who are non-abusive and non-violent in relationships.
Reports of child abuse over the past decade have increased sharply.
In 1990-91, 49,721 cases were reported. Of 46,769 investigated, 52 per cent were substantiated.
Child abuse costs about $90 million a year to welfare departments, although the proposed preventive program has not yet been costed.
The proposals are contained in the document `Preventing Child Abuse _ A National Strategy', launched in Adelaide by the federal Family Services Minister, Senator Crowley, who described the abuse of children as one of the most important issues facing the country.
``Until now, services and programs have largely been directed at meeting the needs of children who have already been abused. But it is not acceptable to wait until a child is hurt before we take action," she said.
Produced by the National Child Protection Council, the strategy _ which has in-principle support from state and territory governments _ says the training of teachers in the abuse-prevention curriculums should be mandatory before they start teaching the subject.
The curriculums _ which should involve parents _ would also help children to recognise child abuse, to say ``no" when they feel it is happening to them and to report the matter.
The document says the curriculums must include the development of positive relationships and self-esteem within children before they move on to looking at the specific issue of child abuse, and must take into account that child-abuse victims might be in the classroom.
Because of the sensitivity of the issues, it is recommended that the curriculums should be incorporated in courses covering topics such as health education, relationships, and personal development.
The strategy also proposes that the states and the Federal Government should share resources and information.
It suggests educating parents to help them restrain their abusive tendencies and to promote non-abusive ways of parenting. It suggests that as many parents might not attend formal education classes, videos could be produced to give examples of managing children in non- violent, non-abusive ways, which would be made freely available through video chain stores.
Other proposals are: Setting up nationwide child-abuse prevention networks.
A media campaign.
Early intervention support services to encourage public policy initiatives that take account of children's interests and to encourage policymakers.
Program planners and practitioners to use child-abuse prevention research findings in their work.
© 1993 The Age