Australia child sexual abuse rates rise since pandemic

A study from the University of Sydney, published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, reveals that sexual violence against children in Australia has accelerated since the pandemic. Researchers had previously expected rates to decline based on trends in other developed nations, but data collected between 2014 and 2024 showed a significant increase.

The research identified a steady annual rise of 2.8 percent in sexual assaults against girls under the age of nine, while girls aged 10 to 17 saw a 4.2 percent increase. For boys aged 10 to 17, the rate of sexual assault accelerated sharply after 2021, rising by 15.7 percent.

Lead researcher Dr. Lucy Grummitt noted that the findings cannot be attributed to a single factor and highlight the need for a less fragmented approach to child protection, as different departments often focus on specific subsets of the broader issue.