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Research published today by University of Sydney researchers has found that both sexual assault and family violence-related assault involving children increased sharply across Australia from 2014 to 2024, with violence accelerating in the last three to five years.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that from 2014, rates of sexual violence against girls ages 0–17 rose steadily. For boys, rates rose sharply from 2021, with more than a 50% increase in just three years. For family violence-related assault, particularly sharp increases were seen from around 2020 among both boys and girls, with increases ranging from 8% to 20% per year through 2024.

"We are at a crisis point. Sexual assault and family and domestic violence have increased over the decade, but what's particularly concerning is that the steepest increases were in the last three to five years," said lead author Dr. Lucy Grummitt of the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre.

The researchers say the increases may reflect a combination of factors, including rising income inequality, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living pressures, changing online gender norms, gaps in support services and increased reporting of violence.

The research comes after children's safety advocacy group Save the Children launched an open letter last month with 200 experts calling for greater action to protect Australian children.

The researchers are now urgently calling on federal and state governments for greater investment in prevention and early detection, including implementing the recommendations of the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches , which outlined approaches to prevent gender-based violence, including greater investment in national and state-based child protection systems.

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