$22.5 million for Centre for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

The Coalition Government will commit $22.5 million in the 2019-20 Federal Budget towards the establishment of the National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today.    

“Keeping Australians safe is my Government’s number one priority. The establishment of the Centre is part of our commitment to prevent future abuse and support victims and survivors.

“It will ensure the needs of survivors will remain a national priority.

“Leading the national apology to survivors of child sexual abuse was about confronting our failures, and saying ‘we believe you’. As I said then, nothing can be done right the wrongs of the past. But we can learn from our mistakes and ensure the stories of survivors inform prevention approaches.”

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, said the National Centre for Excellence will be focused on preventing child sexual abuse, reducing the associated stigma, as well as raising awareness and understanding of the impacts of child sexual abuse.

“The National Centre will provide a strategic focus on research and improving the capacity of services to respond to victims, reducing offender recidivism and preventing future child sexual abuse,” said Mr Fletcher.

The National Centre was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed the Federal Government in October 2018.

The $22.5 million commitment will form a one-off grant over five years for the establishment and ongoing costs of the National Centre.

“There will be further consultation on the scope, location, functions and governance arrangements of the National Centre,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We call on this funding to be matched by the states and territories.

“We owe it to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to make sure that they are well supported and that we work on prevention, intervention, awareness and education”.