Health experts believe improved education in schools can be linked to increased reports of sex crimes against juveniles in Brimbank.
The Weekly revealed last month that authorities are confident a new sexual offences and child abuse investigation team in Sunshine will help address a sharp rise in overall sex crimes committed in Brimbank and Melton.
Latest police statistics show there were 88 cases of sex crimes (excluding rape) against juveniles last financial year – up from 68 in 2011-12. But Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) executive officer Jane Vanderstoel said the increase in reporting could partly be attributed to effective education messages that “sexual assault is not OK”.
Fourteen per cent of the 118 people treated by CASA last financial year were aged between 12 and 19.
“[It can be due to an] increased confidence in a positive response from reporting to police and being believed, and improved responses from schools in consulting with us,” Ms Vanderstoel said.
“Brimbank has the most diverse population of our five local government areas with [people from] 23 different countries of birth [being treated].”
More than half of the centre’s clients in 2012-13 were assaulted in the home of the victim or offender, while three-quarters were living in “family households”.
Nearly a quarter of all CASA’s clients last year were from Brimbank. Children under the age of 12 are seen by the Gatehouse Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Brimbank police’s Acting Inspector Jenny Wilson said the new sex crimes unit would provide more accessible help for residents living in Sunshine and surrounding areas.
