Emotional abuse: The hidden crisis affecting thousands of Australian children

Australian children are facing more emotional abuse than ever before. Source: Moment RF / Getty Images

Emotional abuse of Australian children is on the rise, becoming the most common form of child abuse. Despite this, new research shows that only half of Australians would report suspected child abuse to authorities.

The study by Act for Kids shows this type of abuse is the most common type of maltreatment.
57 per cent of the 45,400 Australian children surveyed, confirmed to have experienced abuse between 2022 and 2023, and over half of respondents aged 14-17 years witnessed emotional abuse at school.
The research also reveals that 87 per cent of Australians agree emotional abuse is a serious problem in Australia, however, nine out of ten underestimate the prevalence of childhood maltreatment.