Aussie kids - are we looking after them?

The question of whether we are adequately protecting Australia's children is a critical one, and recent reports from two key organisations, International Justice Mission (IJM) Australia and Barnardos Australia, suggest that the answer is a resounding "no."

The data highlights a distressing reality, both in the digital world and on the streets, that requires immediate and decisive action from our government and communities.

In the digital realm, the figures on online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) are a stark wake-up call.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) has reported a shocking 41% increase in OCSE reports for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The ACCCE received 82,764 reports during this period, a significant jump from 58,503 the previous year.

IJM Australia CEO David Braga said the figures are a poignant reminder of the need for stronger online safety laws that better protect children.

“These figures are truly shocking and show we need stronger action to protect children,” Mr Braga said.

“We are living in the digital age, which makes children more exposed and vulnerable to online sexual abuse. It is crucial that our laws are fit-for-purpose and cater for existing and emerging threats and challenges.

“We need to remember that every one of these reports is a potential crime. Many of these reports represent real children who have experienced the most egregious forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. These figures, and especially the ongoing escalation year-on-year show that the tech giants have a responsibility to ensure their platforms aren’t being misused for these illegal purposes.” 

Meanwhile, in our communities, children are facing a different, but equally devastating, crisis: homelessness.

Barnardos Australia's analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data reveals that in June 2025, 28,279 children sought help from specialist homelessness services.

A significant portion of these children were under the age of ten, with 30% being under five and another 27% between five and nine years old.

Even more concerning is the number of unaccompanied children seeking help without a parent or guardian.

In 2023–24, 13,300 unaccompanied children accessed these services, with girls making up 63% of this group.

A Barnardos frontline worker emphasied that children are not just "bystanders" to crises like homelessness and family violence; they are "victim-survivors" who need targeted support.

The primary reasons unaccompanied children sought help were interpersonal relationship issues, particularly family and domestic violence and relationship breakdown.

These two reports, while addressing different issues, paint a similar picture of a system that is struugling to protect Australian children.

Whether it's online or in the physical world, children are being exposed to harm at an alarming rate. It is not enough to simply react to these crises; we must be proactive in our efforts to protect children.

IJM Australia is urging the government to legislate a "digital duty of care" to hold tech companies accountable.

Similarly, Barnardos Australia is calling for governments to recognize children as equal victims of domestic and family violence in legislation and policy, and to increase investment in social and affordable housing and child-focused support programs.