A counselling service is being set up in Wollongong to treat children who sexually abuse other children, amid claims online pornography is causing an increase in the severity of the problem state-wide.
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The service will treat children aged 10-17 who must currently travel to Sydney for specialist therapy. It will be run in a community health setting and staffed by five counsellors, including one senior clinician.
Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District’s Kathryn Mulligan said the service would be a hub of the New Street Services model already in operation in Sydney, Newcastle and Dubbo.
Ms Mulligan, from the health district’s violence, abuse and neglect division, said there would be investment in training counsellors.
Sexual offences perpetrated by juveniles rose almost 11 per cent each year, for the past five years, according to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.
Cases of abuse involving penetration have typically been more common among siblings.
Dale Tolliday, clinical advisor to New Street Services, believes exposure to online pornography is driving an increase in peer-on-peer cases of penetration. Mr Tolliday this week told the Sydney Morning Herald that more than 40 per cent of peer assault cases referred to New Street involved sexual penetration.
‘‘We believe it is due to the availability of explicit material online,’’ he said.
The Australian Childhood Foundation has also reported an increase in the severity of sexual abuse perpetrated by children in its programs, and a spike in sexually harmful behaviour by children with no personal history of being abused themselves.
