By Kayelene Kerr from eSafeKids.
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is a collaboration of law enforcement and government agencies and organisations with the aim to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
Online child sexual exploitation can be confronting and not an issue that you may have considered could affect you, your child or a child you care for or work with. It is important that parents, carers, educators and other professionals know what to do if they have reason to suspect online child exploitation has occurred or is occurring.
Online child sexual exploitation may include:
Online grooming
Live streaming
Viewing child sexual abuse material
Coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.
If you see:
Suspected online grooming or unwanted contact.
An individual having a conversation with a child online and saying and doing inappropriate things or trying to meet in person.
Live streaming and consuming child sexual abuse material.
Coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.
If a child is in immediate danger call 000.
Collecting evidence
If you are concerned about the possibility that your child, or a child you know , is at risk, it’s important you act on it as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.
When making a report, it is helpful to collect evidence before blocking or deleting the user and before the content is removed.
This includes:
Screenshots/photos of the conversation (Do not screenshot, save, share or distribute any explicit images of the underage person as this is an offence).
Record of social media details (including account profile, profile usernames and URL of profile)
Webpage addresses (URLs)
Dates and times
Any other information you have about the interaction or suspect.
The Australia eSafety Commissioner has compiled a comprehensive suite of advice on how to collect evidence. This also includes a series of 'how to' videos, view here.
Report
In Australia if you suspect online child sexual exploitation report it to the Australia Centre to Counter Child Exploitation here.
In Western Australia:
Visit your local Police Station
Call WA Police 131 444
Call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
If you encounter child sexual abuse or exploitation material (CSAM / CEM) whilst online read this blog for more information and how to report.
Read
Read the eSafeKids blog about online grooming.
To learn more about eSafeKids workshops and training visit our services page.
To view our wide range of child friendly resources visit our online shop.
Join the free eSafeKids online Members' Community. It has been created to support and inspire you in your home, school, organisation and/or community setting.
About The Author
Kayelene Kerr is recognised as one of Western Australia’s most experienced specialist providers of Protective Behaviours, Body Safety, Cyber Safety, Digital Wellness and Pornography education workshops. Kayelene is passionate about the prevention of child abuse and sexual exploitation, drawing on over 27 years’ experience of study and law enforcement, investigating sexual crimes, including technology facilitated crimes. Kayelene delivers engaging and sought after prevention education workshops to educate, equip and empower children and young people, and to help support parents, carers, educators and other professionals. Kayelene believes protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility and everyone can play a role in the care, safety and protection of children. Kayelene aims to inspire the trusted adults in children’s lives to tackle sometimes challenging topics.
About eSafeKids
eSafeKids strives to reduce and prevent harm through proactive prevention education and training, supporting and inspiring parents, carers, educators and other professionals to talk with children, young people and vulnerable adults about protective behaviours, body safety, cyber safety, digital wellness and pornography. eSafeKids is based in Perth, Western Australia.
eSafeKids provides books and resources to teach children about social and emotional intelligence, respectful relationships, diversity, resilience, empathy, gender equality, consent, body safety, protective behaviours, cyber safety, digital wellness, media literacy, puberty, pornography and family and domestic violence.
eSafeKids books can support educators teaching protective behaviours and child abuse prevention education that aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Framework: National Quality Standards (NQS).
