Government website for paedophiles under review as experts urge focus on stopping harm before it occurs

A taxpayer-funded child abuse prevention website is under review over advice provided to people concerned about their sexual attraction to children, prompting fierce debate about how Australia should tackle child abuse before a child is harmed.

Stop It Now Australia, which launched in April and operates a national website and helpline, has come under fire over material advising users not to “beat yourself up” over sexual thoughts involving children and encouraging them to seek professional help.

The controversy has sparked criticism from some politicians and commentators, while child protection experts and the federal government have defended the broader concept underpinning the service — intervening before offending occurs.

The Attorney-General’s Department confirmed changes have already been made to parts of the website and said further review work is underway with the provider.

The debate comes as Australians continue to grapple with the scale of child sexual abuse and the challenge of preventing harm before police become involved.

The service has attracted scrutiny over guidance published in educational modules linked through the website.

Among the material criticised by opponents are messages encouraging users not to “beat yourself up” over sexual fantasies involving children and assurances that “having these thoughts does not mean you will act on them”.

One module advises users to focus on managing thoughts and urges, stating: “Rather than trying (to change) your sexual interest, your task is to learn how to best manage your sexual thoughts, feelings and fantasies.”

Other guidance encourages users to seek professional help, avoid high-risk situations, build social connections, distract themselves from harmful thoughts and avoid fantasising about children during masturbation.

The website also encourages people to seek assistance, saying: “If you’re worried about your sexual thoughts about children, it is OK to reach out for help.”

The content has prompted criticism from opponents who argue the language risks appearing overly sympathetic, while defenders say reducing shame is essential to encouraging at-risk individuals to seek treatment before offending.

Royal commission recommendation

While Stop It Now has become the subject of renewed scrutiny, the service itself did not emerge suddenly.

Its origins can be traced back to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which recommended the establishment of help-seeking services for people concerned they may be at risk of sexually abusing children.

Recommendation 6.2 specifically called for information and support services informed by the Stop It Now model operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

A spokesperson for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the recommendation was accepted by previous Coalition governments and funded under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.

“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was clear in its recommendation to establish preventative information and help-seeking services,” the spokesperson said.

“This recommendation was accepted and funded by the Turnbull and Morrison governments.

“Child sexual abuse in any form is an abhorrent crime, and perpetrators must face the full force of the law.”

The spokesperson said the federal government was pursuing prevention initiatives while also supporting victims and cracking down on offenders.

“An evaluation is already underway to assess whether the service is achieving its intended outcomes,” the spokesperson said.

“The Attorney-General’s Department is also working with the provider, at the government’s request, to review the website based on evidence and expert advice.”

The former Morrison government committed $9.6 million to establish the service through the First Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.

Since launching in April, the website has attracted more than 28,000 visits from almost 24,000 unique users, while its helpline has received 410 calls.

‘We cannot wait until a child has been harmed’

Stop It Now Australia says criticism of the service misses its core purpose.

The organisation says child sexual abuse causes “devastating, lifelong harm” and argues prevention must sit alongside criminal justice responses.

“Police and the courts are critical to protecting children and holding perpetrators accountable,” the organisation said.

“Stop It Now! Australia complements these justice responses by helping prevent abuse in the first place, or by stopping further harm.”

The organisation said its work was based on evidence showing opportunities exist to intervene before abuse occurs.

“We know that where a person has sexual thoughts about children there is a window to intervene to prevent those thoughts being acted on,” it said.

“Offering a pathway to help does not excuse or normalise abuse.

“Our work focuses on stopping thoughts from becoming actions that harm a child.”

Stop It Now said accountability was central to its approach and that practitioners challenge harmful attitudes while complying with mandatory reporting obligations across Australia.

“If we are serious about stopping child sexual abuse, we cannot wait until a child has been harmed,” the organisation said.

“We must work to prevent it.”

The service also points to research suggesting many convicted child sex offenders experienced problematic sexual fantasies or behaviours years before their first arrest, creating an opportunity for intervention before an offence is committed.

Research cited by the organisation found a significant proportion of people reporting sexual attraction to children wanted professional support.

‘Children don’t find themselves in these situations’

Bravehearts chief executive Alison Geale said Australia needed to have difficult conversations about prevention if it wanted to reduce child sexual abuse.

“For almost 30 years Bravehearts has had a dedicated focus on the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse,” Geale said.

“As a service provider you hear thousands of experiences from victim survivors and although all are unique, it is the markers within each experience that illuminate the moment further harm or harm at all might have been prevented.”

Geale said Australia’s response had historically focused on intervention after abuse was disclosed, often years after the offending occurred.

“Survivors know how long that can take,” she said.

“Many carry it alone for decades before telling anyone.”

She argued child sexual abuse should be viewed as a preventable crime and prevention strategies must be broad, extending beyond law enforcement and survivor support.

“There is a role everyone can play in prevention,” she said.

“Prevention requires sustained investment and public attention and must be holistic, including measures that work with those who have sexual thoughts about children.”

Geale said the issue could be confronting, particularly for victim-survivors, but argued preventing abuse required action before offending occurs.

“Prevention also must reach people who are worried about their own sexual thoughts or feelings towards children before they ever act,” she said.

“This can be confronting, especially for survivors.”

She stressed that approach should not come at the expense of victim support.

“Prevention and treatment should be aligned, not in lieu of the other,” she said.

“Preventing one child, any child, from experiencing sexual harm is the key focus.”

Geale said responsibility for prevention also rested with parents, carers, schools, sporting clubs and community organisations.

“Children don’t find themselves in these situations, they are targeted,” she said.

“We start by being honest that most children are harmed by someone they know and trust, not a stranger.”

She said many survivors spoke of warning signs being missed by adults who either did not know what to do or did not want to believe what they were seeing.

“That’s the gap we must close,” Geale said.