The Y Australia Safeguarding Team recently hosted a pivotal webinar, led by Director of Y Safeguarding, and Safeguarding Sponsor of the Y National Board, Chair Jenny McCombe, OAM, and Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University. The webinar reflected on the Y’s longstanding journey and commitment toward safeguarding children and young people, alongside critical findings from the Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study (ACMS). 

Jenny McCombe in her heartfelt address, shared her personal safeguarding journey, from her early days at the Y to her involvement in shaping national organisational policies. Reflecting on her career, Jenny emphasized the Y’s commitment to creating safe environments for children, especially in response to the Royal Commission’s findings. “We are dedicated to doing everything we can to empower all children and young people to be safe at the Y, in their homes, and in their families,” she said. 

Professor Daryl Higgins presented the key findings from the ACMS, revealing alarming statistics about childhood maltreatment in Australia. According to the study, 62% of Australians have experienced one or more forms of abuse or neglect during childhood, highlighting the urgent need for proactive interventions. 

Key findings from the Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study include: 

• 62% of Australians experienced one or more forms of maltreatment in childhood, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. 

• 39.4% experienced multi-type maltreatment, meaning they suffered two or more forms of abuse or neglect. 

• Exposure to domestic violence was the most common form of abuse, affecting nearly 40% of Australians. 

• Gender disparities were stark: 37.3% of women experienced sexual abuse, compared to 18.8% of men, with gender-diverse individuals reporting the highest rates of maltreatment at 81.5%. 

• The study showed an alarming rise in peer-to-peer abuse, particularly among adolescents, with young women twice as likely as young men to experience abuse from someone they knew. 

“Child maltreatment is disturbingly common,” Professor Higgins said. He stressed the importance of community organizations, like the Y, in leading preventive efforts to mitigate these risks, particularly through proactive engagement with children and families. Higgins called for a national, coordinated approach to prevention, emphasising that child protection efforts should not be limited to statutory services.  

“We need an emotional revolution and a sexual revolution when it comes to how we work together with children and families to prevent abuse,” he said. 

Both Jenny and Daryl emphasized the importance of taking trauma-informed approaches when working with children and families, recognizing that many have experienced abuse or neglect. “We need to understand the lifelong impact of trauma and be equipped to support children, young people, and parents with compassion and care,” Jenny said. 

The webinar served as a call to action, with both Jenny and Daryl urging organisations to champion safeguarding and prevention measures.   “We are inspired by the powerful messages shared during this webinar and stand united in our commitment to safeguarding children and young people,” said Sally Cordina, Executive Director Y Safeguarding.  

“As we continue to reflect on the findings from the ACMS, we acknowledge the responsibility we have to strengthen our prevention strategies and ensure all children are protected from harm.  

“Our work doesn’t stop here—together, we will prioritise trauma-informed care, support families, and champion the safety and well-being of every child and young person in our community,” she said.