Recent cases involving female educators and carers have understandably shaken people and forced many of us to re-examine assumptions about who we trust with our children.

Not because abuse by a female perpetrator is new - but because when a woman, particularly a trusted adult such as a teacher, har...

After years working as a detective with children who had been abused, I started noticing something. 

It wasn't obvious at first but as time went on, certain conditions became consistently apparent. 

Different families. Different ages. Different settings. Different offenders. 
Some cases were adult-...

Every educator dreads it. 

A child whispers: “They touched me on my private parts.”
Or you see two children in a situation that crosses boundaries.

It can be awkward. It’s often confronting and it can feel overwhelming if you don't know how to handle it.

But here’s what I want you to remember: yo...

It’s one of the hardest things for a parent or carer to wrap their head around, witnessing a child display sexualised behaviours towards another child. The instinct is to minimise, to explain it away with a nervous laugh and say, “They’re just curious,” or “It’s normal at that age.”

But here’s the ...

Let’s talk about something that makes a lot of adults squirm - how to explain safe and unsafe touch to little ones when we are the ones responsible for helping them with things like toileting, nappy changes and hygiene.

This topic came up from an educator who purchased my Conversations with Kids ca...

The Question No One Wants to Ask (But Every Parent Should)

Most parents assume the people they love are safe for their children. That family and friends means protection. That love equals trust. I wish that were always true.

But my years as a child abuse detective taught me something I could never...

Before I became a police officer, I didn’t know much about child sexual abuse. It just wasn’t something people talked about when I was a child growing up or as I became a parent myself.

I joined the WA Police before my daughter had turned 2-years-old and she grew up with me in the blue uniform, hel...

It’s the scenario no one ever wants to imagine—but far too many live through.

You start to notice something off in your child - behaviours that don’t make sense, disclosures that chill you to the bone, a gut instinct that won’t leave you alone. Then it hits you like a freight train: the person harm...

I recently spoke with a mother who reached out to me because her 5-year-old child had disclosed sexual abuse - not from an adult, but from another 5-year-old child.

Let’s just pause there.

Because this is the part no one warns you about.

No one tells you what to do when the harm doesn't come from...

Our kids will test us with the little things before they’ll trust us with the big things!

As a former child abuse detective, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is for kids to feel safe and supported by their parents, especially when it comes to difficult or dangerous situations. But here’s a truth...

Entering the dating world as a single parent involves balancing your emotional needs with your children’s safety and well-being. Not a simple task.

Introducing someone new to your child’s life is a big decision that requires careful thought and planning. While it’s natural to want companionship, it...

The difference between inappropriate and grooming behaviours

As parents, educators, and caregivers, distinguishing between inappropriate behaviours and grooming tactics is crucial for protecting children against child sexual abuse.

Inappropriate behaviour can often be a boundary-crossing incident ...