Why Australians struggle to fix child abuse: people just turn away
A UNSW expert says Australia's cyclical outrage about child abuse starves prevention work of resources.
Australia reacts with shock when child abuse cases explode into public view. The issue fades from attention as news cycles turn, allowing prevention efforts to wither.
Professor Michael Salter at UNSW says most adults naturally avoid thinking deeply about child abuse. It reminds us of childhood vulnerability.
This mental barrier lets offenders operate. It keeps child protection constantly under-resourced, even though the public says it is the worst possible problem.
Online offending has surged over five years as organized crime networks grow. A generation of children exposed to explicit content now harms other children.
Salter said prevention works when resources stay steady and coordinated. But Australia has largely abandoned digital safety for young people.
Why it mattersWithout steady focus and funding, child abuse will keep coming back in cycles of scandal and forgetting. Children will be more exposed.
AustraliaAustralian parents and institutions lack the consistent resources and cultural shift needed to protect children from modern online harms and coordinated offender networks.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 5 h ago
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