Content warning: This page includes descriptions of abuse and may be distressing to read. Information on how to access support for any issues it may raise for you is available at Wellbeing support for school staff.
If you believe a crime against a child has been committed, you must make a report to Victoria Police.
Emergency situations that require urgent police attendance must be reported to police via 000.
At any time, you can call Victoria Police on 131 444 (non-emergency situations only) or contact your local police station.
Any act that is a criminal offence against an adult is a criminal offence against a child. There are also additional criminal offences against children.
The following are examples of criminal offences against children.
serious assault
intentionally cause injury
recklessly cause injury
assault with weapon
choke / strangle / suffocate
threaten serious injury
female genital mutilation
neglect
ill-treatment of a child in the person’s care
rape
sexual exposure of genitalia (known as flashing)
possess, access, produce or share child abuse material, including altered or manipulated material known as ‘deepfake porn’
extortion of compromising, sexual or intimate images or videos (known as sextortion)
intentional removal or tampering with a condom without consent (known as stealthing)
grooming for sexual conduct with a child under the age of 16 years (this offence can only be committed by someone aged 18 years or over)
incest
depending on the child’s age and the age of the other person, the following may also be a sexual offence:
any sexual activity (see consent laws for more information)
sexual or inappropriate touching
any sexual act between an adult and a child under 16 years old, or under 18 where the adult has supervision, authority or care responsibilities to that child (see age of consent laws)
stalking
harassment
threatening behaviour
making threats to kill
abduction
false imprisonment
slavery and sexual servitude offences
criminal damage
threat to destroy/damage property
breach Family Violence Intervention Order
breach Personal Safety Intervention Order
causing a person to enter into a forced marriage
being a party to a forced marriage
engaging in one or more change or suppression practices that cause serious injury
Engaging in one or more change or suppression practices that cause injury
Taking a person from Victoria for a change or suppression practice
Advertising a change or suppression practice
membership of a terrorist organisation
recruiting for a terrorist organisation
training involving a terrorist organisation
getting funds to, from or for a terrorist organisation
