'Young people and Pornography' | Jackie Bateman keynotes SASVic Symposium

On 19 April, SASVic held a full-day event exploring technology-facilitated sexual violence and how the Victorian specialist sexual assault sector is responding.

Every year, staff across the child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours sector work with close to 20,000 adults, young people and children impacted by sexual violence. Unsurprisingly, digital developments are impacting sexual violence.

The symposium offered insights from the sexual assault, family violence and wider community sectors, as well as from academics and policy makers. Policy snd practice responses to technology-facilitated sexual violence were at the heart of the symposium.

Jackie's presentation, Young People and Pornography, explored the alarming statistics, the harms caused by exposure to pornography, and actionable strategies to protect, prevent, educate, and shift policy.

One disturbing trend stood out: A survey of 16 to 21-year-olds found that those frequently exposed to pornography were significantly more likely to have been involved in physically aggressive, or degrading sexual acts; either as victims, or those displaying the behaviours.

Later this year, Kids First will hold their Child Sexual Abuse and Harmful Sexual behaviours Conference, which will include content related to the effects of young people's exposure to pornography, and what we can do as professionals, advocates, educators, policymakers and parents.

To be the first to hear when tickets are released, sign up to our professional events mailing list.

• By the time they are 20, more than 4 in 5 men and 2 in 3 women have been exposed to pornography: new research | The Conversation March 2024
   
• 'A lot of it is actually just abuse’ Young people and pornography Report | Children’s Commissioner UK January 2023
   
• 'I knew it was wrong but I couldn't stop it.' | Kids First and University of Melbourne - Preventing Sexual Abuse Research Study 2015
   
• Child therapist warns of online porn danger | Jackie Bateman for The Australian (paywall)
   
• Why evidence-led consent education is essential | Jackie Bateman for The Educator 
   

• 50 women died of family violence in 2022. Prevention is the only way to stop this | Jackie Bateman for Women's Agenda

A renowned therapist, trainer, consultant, and writer with more than 20 years’ practice experience, Jackie has gained a deep understanding of family violence from her experiences working with and supporting children and young people exhibiting harmful sexual behaviours, and their families.

Currently, Jackie is General Manager, Prevention and Recovery at Kids First Australia. Kids First’s Sexual Assault Counselling and Prevention Program (SACPP) works with children and young people who have experienced or engaged in harmful sexual behaviours. The team recently released an evidenced-informed consent education platform, ‘To Future Me’ which teaches on the topics of sex, consent, grooming behaviour and gender in an age-appropriate digital format.

Jackie sits on the Board of Sexual Assault Services (Victoria) and is Deputy Chair of the Harmful Sexual Behaviour network.