Protective Behaviours
Why teach 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.
TOUCHING CONTACT FOR THE CHILD WITHOUT A DISABILITY
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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
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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
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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
Safety
Safety Continuum
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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?
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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