Behaviour

These categories can exist independently but commonly occur in combination with others. The abuse is intrafamilial if the offender is a parent, carer, or member of the child or young person’s family. Extra familial abuse is perpetrated by a person outside the immediate family.

Each form of abuse has a range of indicators. However, one sign on its own may not suggest abuse. If you are concerned that a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed, the list of indicators provided below may assist you to clarify your concerns.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse occurs when a child or young person is deliberately hurt or is at serious risk of being physically hurt, by the actions of their parents or carers. This can be the
result of actions such as punching, kicking, shaking or throwing, scalding/burning or strangling. It can also be the result of repeated excessive physical discipline. The injuries
are not considered accidental.

Possible indicators of physical abuse include the following.

Broken bones or unexplained bruises, burns or welts in various stages of healing.
The child or young person is unable to explain an injury, or explanations given are inconsistent, vague or bizarre.
Direct admissions from the parents that they are concerned that they might harm their child.
Family history of violence.
Marked delay between injury and obtaining medical assistance.
Parent who shows little concern about the welfare of their child or the treatment and care of the injury.
Repeated presentations of the child to health services with injuries, ingestions or minor complaints (this could also be an indicator of Factitious Disorder by proxy, a rare expression of physical and emotional abuse).
The child or young person is unusually frightened of a parent or carer, or is afraid to go home.
The child or young person reports intentional injury by their parent or caretaker.
Arms and legs are kept covered by inappropriate clothing in warm conditions.
Ingestion of poisonous substances including alcohol or drugs.
Avoidance of physical contact by the child (particularly with a parent or carer).

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a child has been exposed or subjected to sexual behaviours that are exploitative and/or inappropriate to his/her age and developmental level. Examples include sexual penetration, inappropriate touching, exposure to sexual acts or pornographic materials.

The harm experienced by a child as a result of these behaviours needs to be, or likely to be, detrimental in effect and significant in nature on the child’s wellbeing. Harm which may result from sexual abuse includes significant emotional trauma, physical injury, infections and impaired emotional and psychological development.

Consideration may need to be given to contextual elements in determining if a situation is abusive, such as the role of coercion or unequal power in a relationship that is claimed to be consensual or socially sanctioned. This is particularly important in relation to sexual behaviour between children as the children’s respective ages, developmental level and the nature of the relationship are important considerations.

Possible indicators of sexual abuse incluce the following.

Sexualised behaviours inappropriate to their age (including sexually touching other children and themselves).
Knowledge of sexual behaviour inappropriate to their years.
Disclosure of abuse either directly or indirectly through drawings, play or writing that describes abuse.
Pain or bleeding in the anal or genital area with redness or swelling.
Fear of being alone with a particular person.
Child or young person implies that he/she is required to keep secrets.
Presence of sexually transmitted disease.
Sudden unexplained fears.
Enuresis and/or encopresis (bed-wetting and bed soiling).

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the sustained, repetitive, inappropriate, ill treatment of a child or young person through behaviours including threatening, belittling, teasing, humiliating, bullying, confusing, ignoring and inappropriate encouragement.

The harm experienced by a child as a result of these behaviours needs to be, or likely to be, detrimental in effect and significant in nature on the child’s wellbeing. Children who have been emotionally abused are likely to have a reduced capacity to experience a range of emotions, to express emotion appropriately and to modulate their emotional experience. Children who have been emotionally abused are likely to be fearful, withdrawn and/or resentful, distressed and despairing.

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is the sustained, repetitive, inappropriate, ill treatment of a child or young person through behaviours including threatening, isolating, neglecting, discrediting, misleading, disregarding, ignoring and inappropriate encouragement. Psychological abuse damages a child’s intellectual faculties and processes, including intelligence, memory, recognition, perception, attention, imagination and moral development.

The harm experienced needs to be assessed to be or likely to be detrimental in effect and significant in nature on the child’s wellbeing. Children who have been psychologically abused are likely to feel worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, endangered or only of value in meeting another’s needs.

Possible indicators of emotional or psychological abuse include the following.

The parent or caretaker constantly criticises, threatens, belittles, insults, or rejects the child or young person with no evidence of love, support, or guidance.
The child/young person exhibits extremes in behaviour from overly aggressive to overly passive.
Delayed physical, emotional, or intellectual development.
Compulsive lying and stealing.
High levels of anxiety.
Lack of trust in people.
Feelings of worthlessness about life and themselves.
Eating hungrily or hardly at all.
Uncharacteristic seeking of attention or affection.
Reluctance to go home.
Rocking, sucking thumbs or self harming behaviour.
fearfulness when approached by a person known to them.

Neglect

Neglect is when a child is not provided with adequate food or shelter, effective medical, therapeutic or remedial treatment, and/or care, nurturance or supervision to a severe and/or persistent extent.

The harm experienced by a child as a result of these behaviours needs to be, or likely to be, detrimental in effect and significant in nature on the child’s wellbeing. Neglect can be acute, chronic or episodic, and can result in detrimental effects on the child or young person’s social, psychological, educational or physical development and/or physical injury.

The deliberate deprivation of a child’s basic needs should be considered within the context of physical, emotional or psychological abuse.

Neglect must be considered within the context of the social and economic environment in which the child lives and the availability of resources. Where the neglect of children is endemic within a community, consideration should be given to a ‘whole of community, capacity building’ approach that seeks to work with the community to address the underlying risk factors contributing to neglect and to strengthen the community’s capacity to meet the holistic needs of the child or young person.

Possible indicators of neglect include the following.

Signs of malnutrition, begging, stealing or hoarding food.
Poor hygiene: matted hair, dirty skin, or severe body odour.
Unattended physical or medical problems.
The child or young person states that no one is home to provide care (inadequate supervision, failure to ensure safety).
Child or young person appears constantly tired.
Frequent lateness to school or absence from school.
Inappropriate clothing, especially inadequate clothing in winter.
Alcohol and/or drug abuse present in the household.
Frequent illness, low grade infections or sores.
Hunger.