Part 2 of our conversation with Renae about harmful sexual behaviours in young people. If you haven’t listened to part 1, please start there! Here in part 2, Renae explains how to talk to kids about sexual behaviour and the current best practice when it comes to prevention and intervention of harmful sexual behaviours.

Heads up, this episode includes explicit conversation about sexual harm.

In this episode, we reference statistics from Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

We also reference research on harmful sexual behaviours in children and adolescents from:

• Schlesinger, L. B. (2010). Sex Offenders, Juvenile Offenders, and Cross-Cultural Crime Research: New Findings, All Interesting. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 54(2), 147-149. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X09354114
• Caldwell, M. F. (2010). Study Characteristics and Recidivism Base Rates in Juvenile Sex Offender Recidivism. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 54(2), 197-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X08330016
• Hackett et al. 2022. Life course outcomes and developmental pathways for children and young people with harmful sexual behaviour
• Chouinard-Thivierge, S., Lussier, P., & Charette, Y. (2023). The Adult Offending Outcomes of Adolescents Who Have Perpetrated a Sex Offense: Is Sexual Offending in Adolescence Indicative of Things to Come? Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 21(1), 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/15412040221123529

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

For one of our toughest questions yet, we are bringing in our first guest! Renae Pepper is a psychologist specialising in children and adolescents engaging in harmful sexual behaviours, and she’s joining the podcast to help answer this very sticky question.

It’s a big topic; in part one of our conversation Renae explains the impact of trauma, the causes of harmful sexual behaviour in young people, sexual behaviour in childhood and why context is crucial.

Heads up, this episode includes explicit conversation about sexual harm.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

Welcome back for season 2! We’re getting straight to it with a very sticky subject, emotional manipulation. We’ll discuss what manipulation and grooming behaviours look like, why it can be hard to detect, and how it undermines safe, consenting intimacy.

Tune in for practical insights on recognizing red flags and empowering young people (and yourself!) to handle these challenging situations.

In this episode, we quoted Tunya Petridis. Tunya has worked as a trauma counsellor and clinical/practice supervisor for over 20 years specialising in working therapeutically with complex families and children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse and neglect. Tunya currently provides practice/clinical supervision to counsellors and senior staff across Australia and consults on all aspects of trauma service provision.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

This is one of our favourite questions we’ve been asked! Adie and Tom talk through
what we can do if we realise we’ve caused harm to someone, ways we can reflect
and how we can change behaviour. The episode also discusses the lack of good role
models in owning our mistakes and the gap in our community support for young
people who have caused harm but want to change.

Findings from the 2017 National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) (ANROWS Insights, Issue 01/2019). Sydney: ANROWS. P. 22 are referenced in this episode.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

Sadly, this is a pretty common experience. In this episode, Tom & Adie
talk about the warning signs our body gives us when we feel unsafe, what our
options are, and what it means to be an ‘Ethical Bystander’ when we see someone
in distress.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

This can be a really scary prospect for people. What do we do when a breakup feels
like it’s becoming unsafe? Adie & Tom walk through what our rights are and what
kind of supports we can access personally and professionally.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

Technology moves faster than we can keep up with. Young people are dealing with
social situations and expectations that adults often can’t even comprehend. In this
episode, Tom & Adie talk about the crazy world of online messaging, sexting, nudes
and how to manage your boundaries in a constantly changing landscape.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au

Heads up, this episode will include explicit conversation around sexual harm. This is
a tough one – There are so many reasons why someone might not want to get help
after an assault, and it can feel like an impossible task to know but also keep it to
yourself. In this episode, Adie & Tom talk through our options when someone
discloses to us but asks us to keep it to ourselves – Who the professionals are, what
our obligations are, and how we can support the person in the moment.

You’ll find more questions and answers on our Instagram.com/sticky_qs
This podcast is produced at Tasmania’s Sexual Assault Support Service, find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sasstasmania
Or online at https://www.sass.org.au/

We understand that sometimes what we discuss might cause distress or concern for listeners. 24/7 support is available in the following ways:

• Tasmania Wide: 1800 697 877 (1800 MY SUPPORT)
  • https://www.1800mysupport.org.au
• Australia wide: 1800 737 732
  • https://www.1800respect.org.au