About Bravehearts

Bravehearts is Australia’s leading child protection organisation and the only charity in the country dedicated to holistically preventing child sexual assault and exploitation.

Bravehearts was founded in 1997 by Hetty Johnston following her then 7 year-old daughter’s disclosure of sexual assault. Finding there was no organisation to turn to for help, Hetty established Bravehearts to provide support and advocacy to those affected by this crime.

Bravehearts’ Mission is to prevent child sexual assault and exploitation in our society. Our Vision is to make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child.

Learn more below about Bravehearts and the work we do.

WHAT DOES BRAVEHEARTS DO?

Bravehearts works tirelessly to make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child through the 3 Piers to Prevention:

The 3 Piers to Prevention are benchmarks for the prevention of child sexual assault and exploitation, and making Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child. These benchmarks are the culmination of over two decades of intensive research into child sexual assault and exploitation prevention.

The 3 Piers to Prevention guide the work of Bravehearts towards achieving our Mission, as well as help us to assess systemic gaps and identify key priorities for lobbying and reform.

The 3 Piers to Prevention are:

Educate: All children and young people receive evidence-based, age-appropriate personal safety education.
Empower: All adults are trained, aware and motivated to protect children, and adequate specialist counselling and support is available to all child and adult survivors of child sexual assault and those who support them.
Protect: All systems of community and government engage effectively and respond at all times in the best interests of the child.

WHAT SERVICES DOES BRAVEHEARTS OFFER?

Through our services, Bravehearts is working to meet the 3 Piers to Prevention benchmarks. These services are:

Education and Training

Personal safety education programs and resources for children and young people.
Cyber-safety, sexual safety and respectful relationships programs and resources for children and young people.
Child protection training for those working with and caring for children and young people.
Risk management for organisations working with children.

Therapeutic Services, Advocacy and Case Management

Counselling and support for children and families affected by child sexual assault and exploitation.
Support and information for the public via Bravehearts’ free call Information & Support Line.
Early intervention programs for young people engaging in, or at risk of engaging in, harmful sexual behaviours.
Case management for survivors and advocacy for children and families affected by child sexual assault and exploitation.

Research, Lobbying and Reporting

Research into the prevalence and prevention of child sexual assault and exploitation.
Policy development in the area of child protection.
Lobbying for legislative reform to ensure the best interests of the child are considered first.
Online reporting schemes to enable survivors in reporting child sexual assault and exploitation.

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