Galileo House ~ Children's Services

Galileo House is a specialist trauma recovery service, with a focus on sexual abuse

Child sexual assault is a crime for which the offender is solely responsible.

A child has been sexually abused when someone in a position of power or authority over the child has taken advantage of their trust and respect to involve them in sexual activity. The child is unable to give informed consent due to an imbalance of power. In all instances, the adult is always responsible.

All those close to the child are profoundly affected by the discovery of sexual assault. It is important, not only for the child but also for family members, to have access to counselling and support to come to terms with what has happened. Apart from the fact that both mothers and fathers themselves need the support counselling can provide, they also need counselling so that they can be of greater help to their child.
 

The Child’s Feelings

Children who have been sexually assaulted have a variety of emotions and or reactions. Some may develop fears and regress to the behaviour of a younger age; some may act out or withdraw, or lose all sense of self worth. There may be feelings of guilt and confusion, of being dirty, or outbursts of crying or exhibit sexualised behaviour. Some children are obviously frightened and upset, others may appear calm, cold and unaffected.

When they finally tell, or when the sexual assault is discovered, children react in different ways, sometimes in ways in which adults do not understand. Adults need to be wary of reacting less sympathetically and giving less support to a child who does not react in the way they expect or think appropriate. Telling, or having someone find out about the sexual assault, is a moment when the child is especially vulnerable. Strong support and reassurance at this critical time can help the child’s recovery.

An important part of the SASS worker’s role is to normalise responses for the child themselves and supporting adults.

The best ways of helping children are to:

• Tell them you believe them

• Stress that what happened is not their fault

• Say you know how hard it was for them to tell

• Do everything you can to comfort and reassure the child

• Say you will do everything you can to protect the child but avoid making promised you may not be able to keep

The aims of the children’s service are:

• The reconnection of the child and family as appropriate. This is in response to the fact that many perpetrators of child sexual abuse alienate the child from their non-offending parents/carers. Reconnection may at times however be irrelevant and at other times even dangerous

• Allowing space for a child to work through their issues. This process is not worker directed but child facilitated

• To deal with the impact of sexual assault on the family

Tasmanian Legislation - Criminal Code:

Legal sexual intercourse is NOT POSSIBLE at 11 years or under.

Legal sexual intercourse (that is with consent) is possible;

• At 12 with a person up to 15

• At 13 with a person up to 16

• At 14 with a person up to 17

• At 15 with a person up to 20

• At 16 with a person up to 21

• At 17 as a full adult.

Click below to see a brochure regarding Children's Services

Head to our Publications page to see many other pamphlets and publications covering sexual assault.

The Child/Youth Sexual Assault Support Service (now known as GALILEO HOUSE) provides counselling and support for survivors of sexual assault from 0 to 18 years, also family members and support people.

This service is located at 73 Federal Street, North Hobart.  Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

Phone: (03) 6231 0044 to make a appointment.

Our service is called Galileo House because Galileo Galilei, the famous Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher was not silenced.

Galileo followed his truth and displayed courage, conviction and resilience.

Trauma survivors are like Galileo in that they demonstrate resilience and strength to overcome many of the myths and beliefs about sexual assault.