National Child Protection Week, 6-12 September 2026
Police across Australia and New Zealand have joined forces for a coordinated national week of action to help keep children safe, disrupt child sex offending and hold registered and post-sentence offenders to account.
The activity, led through the Australia New Zealand Child Protection Working Group, brings together state, territory, Commonwealth and New Zealand law enforcement agencies in support of National Child Protection Week. This year’s theme, ‘Every conversation matters, shifting conversation to action’, reflects the shared responsibility of families, communities, government and police to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
National strategy and cooperation
Throughout the week of action, specialist child protection, offender management, intelligence, cybercrime and frontline policing teams have undertaken targeted activity focused on prevention, deterrence, detection, disruption and enforcement.
Operational activity across Australia has included compliance checks and visits to 1982 registered offenders, execution of 70 search warrants for a range of different investigations, 207 arrests, 718 charges and a large number of devices seized, as well as a range of intelligence gathering and engagement with partner agencies. These activities are designed to ensure offenders comply with their legislative obligations, identify emerging risks and intervene early where children may be at risk of harm.
The coordinated approach reflects the Australia and New Zealand policing strategy to prevent and respond to the abuse and exploitation of children and young people, which recognises that protecting children requires police to engage and prevent, disrupt and intervene early, and respond and investigate in partnership with government, community organisations, industry and the public.
Holding offenders to account
Police know that people who sexually abuse children can move across borders, use technology to conceal their activity and seek opportunities to reoffend. By sharing intelligence, coordinating operational activity and maintaining consistent offender management practices, jurisdictions are strengthening the national safety net around children and young people.
Registered sex offenders and post-sentence offenders are subject to strict reporting, supervision and monitoring obligations. Where offenders fail to comply, attempt to avoid supervision, access child abuse material, contact children unlawfully or otherwise present an unacceptable risk, police will act.
Police will continue to use every lawful capability available to identify, disrupt and prosecute offenders, while also working with partners to prevent offending before it occurs.
AUSTRAC’s Child Sexual Exploitation Response Team (CSERT) uses financial intelligence to proactively identify emerging threats and indicators, while supporting responsive law enforcement investigations to identify offenders, networks and illicit funds, enabling timely disruption and prosecution.
The updated Financial Crime Guide, developed by AUSTRAC in partnership with industry through Fintel Alliance and with law enforcement, will be released shortly.
The guide provides enhanced guidance to help reporting entities and law enforcement identify, detect, and report financial indicators linked to child sexual exploitation and abuse, strengthening the sector’s collective response to this serious threat.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Tony Longhorn, Western Australia Police
“National Child Protection Week is a reminder that child safety is everyone’s responsibility, but it is also an opportunity for police to show the community that we are taking coordinated, practical action to identify, prevent and deter offending.”
“Across Australia and New Zealand, law enforcement agencies are sharing intelligence, targeting high-risk offenders and checking compliance with reporting and supervision obligations. This work is about protecting children, preventing harm, and holding offenders to account.”
“Offenders should be in no doubt: police are working together across borders, online and in communities. If you put children at risk or breach your obligations we will take action.”
“We also know enforcement alone is not enough. Prevention matters. If someone is worried about their own thoughts or behaviours towards children, or about another person’s behaviour, confidential help is available through Stop It Now Australia.”
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Superintendent Carla McIntyre, Victoria Police
“Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, so it’s important they are protected from the risk of a range of harmful offending.
“This includes family violence and child sexual abuse, as well as online offences which also often have a significant and long term impact on the wellbeing of young people.
“However law enforcement agencies alone cannot keep children safe and it’s important to acknowledge that every member of the community has a responsibility. While police will do everything we can to hold offenders to account, prevention is crucial and stops children being subjected to harm in the first instance.
“Talking to your children about safety, particularly their online safety, is really important from a young age.
“Educating yourself about any technology they are using is also key, and using all safety and security settings in apps and devices may help mitigate harm.
“There are a range of great resources available online and I’d encourage anyone who believes their child may have been subjected to any kind of concerning behaviour to come forward and report it to police.”
Quotes attributable to Dr Alex Caples, AUSTRAC DCEO of Intelligence
“Protecting children from exploitation is a shared responsibility, and strong partnerships are critical to that effort.
“AUSTRAC works closely with law enforcement, financial institutions and international counterparts to identify suspicious financial activity, uncover criminal networks and support action against those who exploit children.”
Call to action
Police are urging anyone with information about child sexual abuse, child exploitation material, online grooming, suspicious contact with children, or a registered offender who may be breaching their obligations, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online. Information can be provided anonymously.
If a child is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
Adults who are concerned about their own sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children, or who are concerned about someone else, can seek confidential support from Stop It Now! Australia a child sexual abuse prevention service providing help, information and support for people seeking to prevent harm on 1800 01 1800.
About National Child Protection Week
National Child Protection Week runs from 6 to 12 September 2026. The week encourages all Australians to play a role in keeping children safe by listening to children and young people, speaking up about concerns and turning awareness into action.
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