AFP Commissioner, Andrew Colvin, Deputy Commissioner, Karl Kent, and National Manager Crime Operations, Debbie Platz with key stakeholders at the Civil Society Stakeholder Workshop in 2018 |
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The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) was established in 2018 by the Australian Government to coordinate a collaborative national response to counter the online exploitation of children across Australia.
While currently in a developmental phase, the ACCCE in its maturity will bring together highly experienced specialists from law enforcement in collaboration with subject matter experts from diverse fields including non-government organisations, industry representatives and academics.
The ACCCE is currently in the process of procuring a new office in Brisbane, tailored to user requirements, and which will provide a place of partnership and shared resources for those committed to countering online child exploitation. The ACCCE is conducting Working Groups and gathering specialised stakeholder input to ensure the centre achieves its goal to be a leader in countering child exploitation.
The realisation of the ACCCE will enable:
"It’s still early days for the ACCCE but the results are outstanding. I am really looking forward to watching the ACCCE develop in the coming years as I know it will be a world leader in child protection operations."
Andrew Colvin, Commissioner AFP, November 2018
In September 2018, the ACCCE met with 16 key non-government organisations and government agencies that work towards preventing child exploitation. The meeting heard from the National Office for Child Safety on their work in countering child exploitation, and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in regard to broader online safety. The group workshopped risks, challenges and opportunities, to identify areas of priority for ACCCE coordination and collaboration.
Meeting outcomes included recommendations for the creation of three distinct Working Groups in relation to education, awareness and research, along with a National Board of Advisors on Prevention. These working groups and the Board of Advisors are progressing, with the first Working Groups currently under way.
The ACCCE and the Australian Institute for Criminology (AIC) co-hosted the Child Exploitation Material (CEM) Reduction Research Program Roundtable in Brisbane in October 2018.
The Roundtable brought together more than 90 academics, non-government organisations, industry, and state and territory police representatives to discuss countering child exploitation. This included a number of presentations and 'speed' networking opportunities focusing on prevention and removing victims from harm, and identifying new approaches to reduce child exploitation material.
From left: Deputy Director of the Australian Institute for Criminology, Dr Rick Brown, Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan, Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology, Michael Phelan, at the roundtable |
The roundtable was officially opened by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Phelan APM, and AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan.
The roundtable invited applications for funding by the Child Exploitation Material Reduction Research Program (CEMRRP) to conduct best practice research projects.
The CEMRRP seeks to reduce the production, distribution, storage, and viewing of child exploitation material (CEM). The program was established by the AIC in collaboration with the ACCCE, with funding of $800,000 over two years under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The successful research projects have just been announced.
Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, said:
“Research from these projects will help to identify new solutions to this critical issue, and ultimately reduce exploitation of children".
The successful research projects are:
ThinkUKnow, Australia’s only law enforcement-led online safety program, celebrated its 10 year anniversary and launched its 2019 national training rollout in February at the ACCCE in Brisbane. The ThinkUKnow program is an AFP-led initiative, delivered nationally by volunteers and presenters from law enforcement and industry organisations.
ThinkUKnow was launched in Australia on 9 February 2009 as a response to an increase in child exploitation reports and a lack of online safety information available to parents, carers and teachers, all of whom have a key role to play in preventing the online child exploitation . The program now reaches more than 200,000 students and 17,000 parents, carers, and teachers a year.
The need for the program is highlighted by the increasing number of reports of child exploitation received by the AFP each year, with almost 18,000 received in 2018 alone.
The ThinkUKnow 2019 national training rollout includes revised content based on information provided by the ACCCE to address changing issues and trends in child exploitation activities, with a strong focus on app ‘features’ and functionality to assist parents and carers to identify whether these apps are suitable for their family.
Online Child Safety Team Trainer, Clint Bopping, Queensland Police Commander Community Engagement Group Superintendent, Peter Brewer, National Manager Crime Operations, Debbie Platz, and AFP Online Child Safety Team Leader, Simone McKeough at the event |
AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan, said:
“I congratulate the ThinkUKnow program on 10 years, its members, volunteers, and all those who have been part of the journey. It’s a tremendous achievement of which you should all be proud.”
The program is supported by 800 registered volunteers. Volunteers receive training and commit to delivering a minimum of three presentations a year, at times and locations convenient to them.
For further information about ThinkUKnow please contact the Online Child Safety Team - online-child-safety@afp.gov.au
A safety tip from ThinkUKnowMake sure your child feels comfortable talking to you about issues they might be experiencing online, |
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The first bi-annual meeting of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) for 2019 was opened on 5 February in Sydney by AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan.
Representatives were welcomed from Canada (the current VGT Chair), Japan, USA, UK, Ireland, Europol, Interpol, Netherlands, UAE and Australia. The VGT was established in 2003, and is an international collaboration of law enforcement agencies, non-government organisations and industry partners aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The three-day meeting included member country updates, presentations and discussions designed to build capacity and share mutual understanding to address child sexual exploitation, and included key priorities around the issues of the health and wellness of employees working within this crime type.
Members of the Virtual Global Taskforce meeting in Sydney |
The ACCCE continues to support international efforts in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the wider South East Asian region. This includes:
Farewell to Commander Lesa GaleThe ACCCE is sad to farewell our Manager, Commander Lesa Gale. Commander Gale has done a wonderful job establishing the Centre, (although she would argue that this was a group effort), including the initial implementation, the launch in September 2018, the ACCCE website, and establishing the governing structure to enable the ACCCE to transition to business as usual. We look forward to continuing to work with Commander Gale in her new role as Assistant Commissioner – National Manager Protection Operations. |
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The ACCCE logo represents the centre as a collaboration between law enforcement, government, non-government organisations, industry, academia and community.
The multi-coloured lines represent the ‘network’ of multi-agency involvement – the lines begin from different points before coming together to create a cohesive entity. They also create an arch that represents protection, and a ‘space’ that evokes a collaborative place where we can work together towards a world without online child exploitation.
3 May
Foundation ACE
Support the newly established Foundation ACE (Foundation Against Child Exploitation) at their fundraising event in Melbourne. Foundation ACE aims to combat the online child sexual exploitation industry through education and awareness, supporting and assisting law enforcement, support for victims, and advocacy.
25 May
International Missing Children’s Day
The AFP's National Missing Persons Coordination Centre will again be leading the global effort in support of International Missing Children’s Day. Find out how you can support this movement.
15 June
Starry Starry Night
Support the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s annual fundraising gala ball while raising funds to build a safer world for children.
Only by working together can we combat the online exploitation of children.
If you think a child is in immediate danger call Triple Zero (000), Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000, or your local police.
Visit www.accce.gov.au/report for details on how to report crime.
Ask the ACCCE a question, provide feedback or suggest content for future newsletters at www.accce.gov.au/contact-us.
Vision: Children are free from exploitation
Mission: To drive a collaborative national response to counter the exploitation of children
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