Expanding treatment pathways for sexually abusive behaviour in young people: an examination of Therapeutic Treatment Orders

Figures & data

Table 1. Examples of developmentally appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviours in young people based on age.

Age range	Age-appropriate	Concerning	Very concerning
9–12 years	Masturbating in private ‘Show me yours, I’ll show you mine’ with peers Kissing and flirting with peers Talking about genitals or reproduction with peers Dirty words/jokes with peers	Attempting to expose others’ genitals Sexual knowledge too great given context Preoccupation with masturbation Peeping, exposing or seeking out pornography Simulating foreplay/intercourse with peers with clothes on	Compulsive masturbation Repeated/chronic peeping or exposing Chronic interest in pornography Forcing exposure of others’ genitals Penetration of dolls, other children, or animals Touching others’ genitals without permission
13–18 years	Sexually explicit conversations with peers Obscenities/jokes relevant to own culture Sexual teasing and flirting Masturbating in private Sexual intercourse plus full range of sexual activity with peers	Preoccupied or anxious about sex Seeking out pornography Being promiscuous Themes or obscenities involving sexual aggression Engaging in unsafe sexual behaviour	Compulsive masturbation Degradation of self/others with sexual themes Preoccupation with aggressive pornography Sexual contact with younger people or animals Sexual harassment

Note: Adapted from South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (2017).

Figure 1. Pathways to treatment for sexually abusive behaviour in Victoria. MAPPS = Male Adolescent Program for Positive Sexuality.

Figure 2. The number of Therapeutic Treatment Orders granted and extended. Note: Information in this figure was sourced from the Children’s Court of Victoria (2021).

Figure 3. The pathway to obtaining a Therapeutic Treatment Order. Note: It is mandatory to refer young people to the Therapeutic Treatment Board unless they are a non-existing Child Protection client who has been reported by a member of the community. SAB = sexually abusive behaviour; SABTS = sexually abusive behaviour treatment service; TTO = Therapeutic Treatment Order.

South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence. (2017). Age appropriate sexual behaviours in children and young people: Information for carers, professionals and the general public. South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence.

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Children’s Court of Victoria. (2021). Annual reports. State of Victoria. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.childrenscourt.vic.gov.au/publications/annual-reports

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