Although every child has the right to feel safe at all times, each year thousands of children across Australia experience abuse. It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be subject to some form of unwanted sexual activity before the age of 18 (Australian Institute of Criminology, 1993).
A protective behaviours program is based on two themes:
- We all have the right to feel safe at all times
- We can talk with someone about anything, no matter what it is
By sharing protective behaviours with your child, you will be helping to develop lifelong skills of assertiveness, self-confidence, problem solving, communication, resilience and help seeking.
This handbook provides activities and discussions that are simple and presented in a fun, child-friendly way, designed not to frighten children but inform them of some of the vital skills of personal safety. Talking about protective behaviours will help reinforce the work done by teachers as part of the Health Education curriculum.