Sydney study finds sharp rise in sexual and family violence against Australian children
A University of Sydney study of 2014–2024 national data found police-recorded sexual assault and family violence against children rose sharply, especially in the last three to five years, while hospitalisations and substantiated maltreatment cases did not rise.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A University of Sydney study of Australian administrative data from 2014 to 2024 found that police-recorded sexual assault and family violence against children rose sharply over the decade. ABC News (Australia)LC “The study examined Australian administrative data from 2014 to 2024, including police recorded assaults, hospitalisations, and child protection data.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Police-recorded sexual assault and family violence against children in Australia rose sharply over the past decade” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu reported that the research was published in JAMA Network Open on Tuesday. Anadolu AgencyN “The University of Sydney research, published in JAMA Network Open” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2The rate of sexual assault rose 32 per cent for girls from birth to nine, 51 per cent for girls aged 10 to 17, and 60 per cent for boys aged 10 to 17, with the boys' rate rising 15.7 per cent a year from 2021. ABC News (Australia)LC “It found the rate of sexual assault against girls aged from birth to nine increased by 32 per cent, and for girls aged 10 to 17 years old by 51 per cent over the decade.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Sexual assault rates among boys aged 10 to 17 rose by 60% over the decade, accelerating to 15.7% annually after 2021.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Anadolu added that family and domestic violence-related assaults also rose, by 8% to 20% annually across several age groups, with particularly sharp rises since around 2020. Anadolu AgencyN “with particularly sharp rises since around 2020, ranging from 8% to 20% annually across several age groups” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2Lead researcher Lucy Grummitt said "We are at a crisis point" and that the steepest increases were in the last three to five years. Anadolu AgencyN “"We are at a crisis point. Sexual assault and family and domestic violence have increased over the decade, but what's particularly concerning is that the steepest increases were in the last three to five years," lead researcher Lucy Grummitt said.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ ABC News (Australia)LC “The lead researcher says we are at a "crisis point" and that all levels of government need to respond.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Mixed · 2The researchers suggested possible contributing factors including rising income inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, cost-of-living pressures, changing online gender norms and gaps in support services; Anadolu also cited the March 2021 end of the JobKeeper wage subsidy. ABC News (Australia)LC “Dr Grummitt said the increases could be linked to factors such as rising income inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, cost-of-living pressures, and changing online gender norms.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “including the withdrawal of government economic assistance such as Australia's JobKeeper wage subsidy program in March 2021” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Left · 1ABC reported that over the same period hospitalisations for assault injuries to children and substantiated child maltreatment cases did not increase, a divergence the researchers said raises questions about what is driving the findings; they raised the possibility that falling substantiations reflect limited system capacity rather than a true decline. ABC News (Australia)LC “The research found that during the same time where was no increase in hospitalisations for assault-related injuries to children, and no increase in substantiated child maltreatment cases through the child protection system.”“One concern is that the declines we found reflect an issue with system capacity rather than a true decline in exposure.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1Child sexual exploitation expert Conrad Townson called the increases "staggering" but said some could reflect people being more willing and able to report abuse. ABC News (Australia)LC “Mr Townson also said some of the increases could be explained by people being more willing and able to report abuse.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗ Left · 1The researchers want federal and state governments to invest more in prevention and early detection, including implementing the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches; former national children's commissioner Anne Hollonds and Jamie Crosby of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare also urged action. ABC News (Australia)LC “The researchers want federal and state governments to invest more in prevention and early detection, including by implementing the recommendations of the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches.”“Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare CEO Jamie Crosby said there was a "desperate and immediate" need for governments to take action.” Read at ABC News (Australia) ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- ABC leads with the 'crisis point' warning and calls for government action, with expert and advocate voices.
- Emphasis
- Divergence with hospitalisation and child protection data, reporting caveat, calls for prevention funding.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the JAMA Network Open publication or the 8-20% annual family violence rises.
- Charged language
- “crisis point”“staggering”“surged”
- For example
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“Sexual and family violence against children at 'crisis point', study finds” — ABC News (Australia)
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Anadolu gives a short, data-led report of the findings and the researchers' call for stronger prevention.
- Emphasis
- Percentages, journal publication, JobKeeper withdrawal as possible factor.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits flat hospitalisation and substantiated maltreatment figures, outside expert comment and the reporting caveat.
- Charged language
- “wake-up call”“crisis point”
- For example
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“Grummitt said the data should be a wake-up call for governments and authorities to take greater action” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The University of Sydney study covers 2014 to 2024 national data.
- Sexual assault rates rose 32% (girls under 10), 51% (girls 10-17) and 60% (boys 10-17) over the decade.
- Boys' rate rose 15.7% a year from 2021.
- Lead researcher Lucy Grummitt said Australia is at a 'crisis point'.
- The steepest increases were in the last three to five years.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the rise reflects more violence or more reporting
- Left
- ABC says the divergence from flat hospitalisation and substantiation figures raises questions, and quotes an expert who says some of the rise may reflect greater willingness to report.
- Centre
- Anadolu presents the rises as real increases and does not mention the flat hospitalisation or substantiation data or the reporting caveat.
University of Sydney organisation
Its researchers, led by Lucy Grummitt, say the findings show a crisis point and call for coordinated government prevention efforts.
“We actually have good evidence on what needs to be done, and I think now it's about governments working together to achieve that,” — ABC News (Australia)
Oceania1 outlet
ABC adds local expert and advocate reaction and policy calls.
“Former national children's commissioner Anne Hollonds said now was the time for action” — ABC News (Australia)
ABC News (Australia)
Middle East1 outlet
Anadolu reports the findings briefly as an international study story.
“according to a study published Tuesday” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
Left1 article
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Sexual and family violence against children at 'crisis point', study finds
Alarmist Leads with the 'crisis point' warning while including caveats about reporting and system capacity.
Centre1 article
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Sexual, domestic violence against children rises sharply in Australia: Study
Neutral Concise data-focused report of the findings and possible causes.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 20:01 First ABC News (Australia)LC Sexual and family violence against children at 'crisis point', study finds
- 13 Oct 23:03 +3h 1m Anadolu AgencyN Sexual, domestic violence against children rises sharply in Australia: Study
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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