Peer-on-Peer Abuse
It can be a common misconception that when a child or young person is being abused, it is assumed that the perpetrator is an adult. It is important to recognise that children and young people can also be perpetrators of abuse towards their peers.
It is vital for organisations who work with children and young people to be aware of peer-on-peer abuse so they can take adequate steps to prevent, identify, and appropriately respond to incidents.
Organisations should recognise and understand that peer-on-peer abuse can occur in any setting, even if robust policies and procedures are in place. To provide a safe environment for children and young people, organisations must understand the types of abuse which can occur, who they can affect, and how to identify indicators of harm.
Types of Abuse
Peer-on-peer abuse can take many forms, both face-to-face and online, including but not limited to:
- Physical abuse: including kicking, hitting, hair pulling and biting.
- Sexual abuse: including sexual violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment such as sexual comments, jokes or remarks.
- Emotional abuse: including teasing, bullying, intimidating, exclusion, and name calling.
Who Does it Affect?
Peer-on-peer abuse can affect any child or young person, however, some children and young people are more likely to experience victimisation by peers. This includes children and young people:
- From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- With disabilities and additional support needs
- Who are residing in residential care
- Who are LGBTQIA+
- Who have experienced family and domestic violence
This list is not exhaustive and is important for staff working with children and young people to understand peer-on-peer abuse so they can appropriately safeguard the children and young people they work with.
Recognising Indicators of Peer-on-Peer Abuse
If a child or young person has been the victim of abuse, they may display indicators of harm, including:
- Poor self-esteem
- Physical injuries
- Mental or emotional ill-health
- Being absent from school
- Becoming withdrawn from social interactions.
- Showing a lack of interest in activities they may have once enjoyed
- Changes in behaviour, such as engaging in behaviours that are inappropriate for their age or engaging in high-risk behaviours
Awareness of indicators of harm and how they can present in children and young people is vital to ensure that necessary supports can be provided.
Safeguarding Children and Young People
Organisations should provide staff members with appropriate training on how to prevent, identify, and respond to peer-on-peer abuse. Staff working with children and young people have a duty to report any form of abuse against, or perpetrated by, a child or young person in their care. Duty of care does not cease once a report is made. When receiving a disclosure, be trauma-informed and allow the child or young person to tell their story in their own words with minimal interruptions. Thank them for taking the time to speak openly about what they have experienced and reassure them that they have safe people they can speak to if they want to talk more about an incident later.
Understanding power dynamics between children and young people is another key component in identifying and responding to peer-on-peer abuse. The notion that perpetrators are more likely to be children or young people who are physically bigger or older than their victim can be a common misconception. A victim who has been subject to abuse can have the capacity to become a perpetrator. Being aware of this dynamic can assist staff working with children and young people to provide the appropriate supports to the parties involved.
It is crucial to take all disclosures seriously and to take the necessary steps to report allegations in accordance with legal and organisational obligations. Organisations working with children and young people should have clear and robust policies and procedures in place outlining processes for reporting and responding to peer-on-peer abuse. Ensuring staff are aware of, and follow, reporting obligations fosters an environment that demonstrates that abuse will not be tolerated.
How Can Safe Space Legal Help?
Safe Space Legal has extensive experience supporting schools, early learning centres and other organisations working with children and young people to ensure they are meeting their child safety obligations. Our services include:
- Drafting best practice child safety policies, procedures and codes of conduct;
- Conducting root-cause analyses of critical incidents;
- Providing child safety training on legal obligations, duty of care and child safety;
- Conducting child safety investigations into allegations of harm and misconduct; and
- Providing sound legal advice on risk mitigation and critical incident response.
Contact office@safespacelegal.com.au or call (03) 9124 7321 to organise a complementary discussion in relation to your organisation’s safeguarding needs.