National Strategy development

We launched the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030& (National Strategy) in October 2021. In developing the National Strategy, we consulted with a range of stakeholders to ensure it was informed by diverse views.

Consultations to develop the National Strategy

From 2018 to 2021, we conducted consultations with a broad range of government and non-government stakeholders to develop the National Strategy.

Consultations involved Australian, state and territory government agencies, and non-government stakeholders. These included:

• victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and their advocates
• First Nations communities
• culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• people with disability
• people who identify as LGBTQIA+
• advocates for children and young people
• regional and remote communities
• the Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians
• Victims of Crime Commissioners
• child protection experts
• peak bodies
• clinical practitioners
• organisations
• academics.

In July 2019, we completed the first stage of consultations to inform relevant National Office-related activities that had been recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This included consulting on the development of the National Strategy. Throughout this process, we consulted First Nations peoples, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, advocates, clinical practitioners, child protection experts, non-government organisations, academics and organisations. Our Public Consultation Report June 2019 reflects these initial consultation outcomes.

Final development consultations from April to July 2021 included facilitated workshops with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and their advocates, First Nations people, and people with disability and their advocates. We also held individual consultations with stakeholders, including those unable to attend facilitated workshops and conducted a written consultation process, inviting over 600 non‑government stakeholders to participate. The Public Consultation Report 2021 reflects the outcomes of this final round of consultation.

We are committed to partnering with the community on the design, implementation and evaluation of National Strategy measures, and the development of targeted resources and materials to meet diverse needs.

Find out more about how you can get involved in current and future consultations.