Child sexual and family violence in Australia spikes post-pandemic, researchers link rise to inequality and online misogyny
A University of Sydney study finds sharp increases in sexual assaults on Australian children since the pandemic, especially among boys aged 10-17, and attributes the surge to income inequality and toxic online cultures.
A decade-long analysis by the University of Sydney, published in JAMA Network Open, shows that child sexual violence in Australia has accelerated sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic, contrary to expectations of a decline. Rates of sexual assault on girls up to nine increased by 2.8% each year, and assaults on girls aged 10-17 rose 4.2% annually, while assaults on boys aged 10-17 surged 15.7% after 2021. Family-related assaults also rose steeply after that year, although hospitalisations and maltreatment reports remained stable.
Researchers link the trend to rising income inequality—the highest in 20 years—and the growth of misogynistic online spaces that reinforce male authority. Missing or inconsistent data from several states hampered a full picture, prompting calls for a whole-of-government monitoring system.
Why it matters
Rising child violence signals urgent policy and social interventions to protect vulnerable youths.
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