Understanding & Preventing Child Sexual Exploitation

Presented by Conrad Townson (Principal Advisor on Child Sexual Exploitation, IFYS Ltd) who oversees Project Paradigm, this training enables professionals and agencies involved with children and young people to gain a greater understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

It explores the sophisticated models of recruitment (‘grooming’) used to sexually exploit young people as well as teaching skills in assessment and intervention with the aim of protecting young people and preventing CSE within communities. 

Project Paradigm is a national strategy that works to support prevention, early intervention and community capacity building in the effort to ensure children and young people are free from harm through exploitation.

Level 2 - Understanding & Preventing Child Sexual Exploitation
Tuesday 26 November, 9am (registration 8.45am) - 4.30pm

This workshop looks at the current body of research in both an Australian and overseas context and covers the following key elements:

• Definitions and exploration of processes of control used in CSE.

• Common risk indicators found to be present in cases of CSE.

• Examining stereotypes and the use of language when responding to CSE.

• The impact of sexual exploitation and the needs of young people when considering intervention.

• How to risk assess specific cases to enable an informed approach to intervention.

Level 3 - Practical Challenges of Child Sexual Exploitation
Wednesday 27 November, 9am (registration 8.45am) - 4.30pm
**In order to undertake Level 3 Training participants need to have completed the Level 2 training beforehand.

This workshop aims to support professionals and agencies involved with children and young people to gain a greater depth in knowledge and understanding of CSE and will cover the following key elements:

• Discuss challenges and barriers to engaging with young people resistant to change.

• Understand how to better support young people with additional needs.

• Develop an understanding of the potential for victims to become perpetrators, and potential ways to work

  with them.

• Suggestions and tips for dealing with disclosures of CSE.

• Potential resources and techniques for problem solving.

Content and trigger warning:

This training is intended to provide professionals with a good working knowledge of the complex nature of child sexual exploitation and as such the content covered will include the following topics; sexual violence, rape, power, child sexual abuse, child abuse and drug & alcohol use. This will also involve discussions about real life cases which is intended to help participants understand the very real impacts for children and young people in these situations. These topics and the material covered can at times be uncomfortable, and whilst every effort has been made to alert attendees to sensitive and traumatic material, we cannot foresee which elements of the content may be potentially triggering, especially for those with lived experience. We encourage participants to consider at their own discretion whether this training is appropriate for them.

Registration: 
Level 2&3, Tuesday 26 (level 2) and Wednesday 27 (level 3) November - $600
*Registration includes light lunch

About Conrad Townson

Conrad started his career working with young people in community and outdoor education-based settings in the UK and Eastern Europe.

He has a strong background in child protection working as a practitioner and manager with children and young people across a number of settings including – harmful sexual behaviour intervention, missing children, child sexual exploitation, therapeutic residential care, family intervention and domestic violence.

Conrad is currently Principal Advisor on Child Sexual Exploitation with IFYS Ltd and oversees Project Paradigm, a national programme aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation in Australia. Alongside this he supports professional practice through external professional supervision, consultancy and training on child protection related issues. He sits on the board of the Australian Community Workers Association, is chair of the National Strategic Partnership on Child Sexual Exploitation, a member of the National Working Group on Responses to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material, a member of the National Stakeholder Working Group for the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, and occasional peer reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Aggression.