Ending Sexual Violence Hub
Harmful sexual behaviour services
Harmful sexual behaviour services are for children, young people and families who require support for harmful sexual behaviour
Services provide responsive, developmentally appropriate treatment programs to address the harmful sexual behaviour and underlying harm they have experienced. They will work with the children and their families and carers to stop the behaviour, and re-establish age and stage appropriate behaviour.
Professional service referral
Professional referral to a specialist harmful sexual behaviour service
A child or young person displaying harmful sexual behaviour can be referred to a service through a professional referral.
A professional referral could be from child protection, police, a health professional, courts or their school.
Harmful sexual behaviour services are located within specialist sexual assault services in Victoria.
To find a local specialist sexual assault service in Victoria visit SASVic’s website.
Pre-referral consult
A worker from the service will conduct a pre-referral consult with the referring service to gather information and determine the most appropriate service option.
Harmful sexual behaviour services are located within specialist sexual assault services in Victoria.
To find a local specialist sexual assault service in Victoria visit SASVic’s website.
Pre-referral consult
A worker from the service will conduct a pre-referral consult with the referring service to gather information and determine the most appropriate service option.
Harmful sexual behaviour services are located within specialist sexual assault services in Victoria.
To find a local specialist sexual assault service in Victoria visit SASVic’s website.
Professional referral to a specialist harmful sexual behaviour service
A child or young person displaying harmful sexual behaviour can be referred to a service through a professional referral.
A professional referral could be from child protection, police, a health professional, courts or their school.
Harmful sexual behaviour services are located within specialist sexual assault services in Victoria.
To find a local specialist sexual assault service in Victoria visit SASVic’s website.
Self-referral
Self-referral to a specialist harmful sexual behaviour service
A child or young person who displays harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) can access HSB services by self-referral. A self-referral is when a child’s trusted adult (parent/carer/grandparent etc.) calls up for support.
Harmful sexual behaviour services are located within specialist sexual assault services in Victoria.
To find a local specialist sexual assault service in Victoria visit SASVic’s website.
Intake & assessment
Intake and assessment is conducted by the HSB worker with the client/s
Information is gathered in more detail, which can include:
- History/background information – this includes genograms, age and stage of child and developmental history, cognitive function and social development.
- Trauma experience/harmful sexual behaviour.
- Current situation – impacts a harmful sexual behaviour and areas of concern.
- Living environment and current care arrangement if any.
- Safety plan – check to see if any safety plans are currently in place.
Consult
Practitioners will consult with their relevant team leader and discsuss appropriate programs for the client/s.
These can include therapeutic programs for:
- children displaying harmful sexual behaviour
- support programs for trusted adults and/or family
- sexual assault counselling for child or young person.
Once assigned to a program, different organisations offer support while client/s are on the waitlist.
When therapeutic sessions begin, the duration of the program can vary across services, however, can range from 6 months to 12 months.
Harmful sexual behaviour intervention and support
Practitioners will work with a child or young person displaying harmful sexual behaviour and/or their family
Sessions can be one-on-one and/or group sessions for the child, young person and/or their families.
When therapeutic sessions begin, the duration of the program can vary across services and can range from 6 to 12 months.
For the best user experience of our harmful sexual behaviour services pathway, we recommend you use a desktop or wide screen monitor to view this page. Click the image below to download a PDF of the pathway.
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