Child Abuse and Neglect in Australia: Community Development Report

This report addresses the social problem of child abuse and neglect in Australia, fulfilling the requirements of a Community Development assignment (WEL301A). It begins by defining child abuse and highlighting its prevalence, supported by statistics on different forms of abuse (physical, emotional, negligence, and sexual). The report then outlines the legal framework in Australia, differentiating between the civil and criminal legal systems and their approaches to child protection. Key factors contributing to child abuse, such as social isolation, stress, poverty, and lack of parental support, are discussed. The report concludes by referencing relevant sources, providing a comprehensive overview of the issue, and offering insights into potential community development solutions to address and mitigate child abuse.

Community
development

Child abuse and neglect in
Australia
• Child abuse is one of the most common unethical behaviour which
occurs due to failure of parent, and family structure.
• Every form of physical, emotional, negligence, sexual abuse,
commercial exploitation, has resulted into potential harms to the
health of the children, and its survival.

• This pie chart indicates that 12% of
the total reported claims from the
sexual abuse.
• 45% of the total claims known
claims are related to emotional
abuses.
• 25% of the total victims suffer from
negligence.
• 18% of the victims suffer from
physical abuses.
(Source: Kelso, 2019)

Compliance of Australia
• Civil legal system- The main focus is on the near future that rely on
child`s safety and their best interests. The decision is related to
whether the child is under protection or not. This law do not rely on
judgement as per the guilt accused.
• Criminal legal system- The basis focuses on past and also the guilt of
accusing. Punishment might involve incarceration. This law system
gives a standard proof of beyond the doubt (Reeve,& Gool, 2013).

Factors that lead to child abuse
• Social isolation
• Stress
• Lower self-esteem
• Lack of parental love
• Disability related to body
• Poverty
• Lack of social power leads to lack of employment, insanitation
environment, and lack of hygiene environment.

References
• Kelso, (2019). Child Abuse Statistics & Rates in Australia. Retrieved
from: https://kelsolawyers.com/au/resource/child-abuse-statistics/
• Australian government, (2018). What is child abuse and neglect?.
Retrieved from:
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/what-child-abuse-and-neglect
• Reeve, R., & van Gool, K. (2013). Modelling the relationship between
child abuse and long-term health care costs and wellbeing: Results
from and Australian community-based survey. Economic Record,
89(286), 300-318.