Child Wise

Tourism is not the cause of child sex tourism but it is a channel that provides offenders with a way to gain access to children. Child sex offenders must use facilities and services offered by the travel industry – travel agents, airlines, hotels, taxis, tour operators, etc – and as such the tourism industry is well-placed to play a vital role in protecting children.

Child sex tourists may be domestic or international travellers who may make a short or extended stay in a particular location. They may be holiday-makers, business travellers, expatriates or aid workers.

As a tourism industry representative, you can help to prevent the sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable children in destinations that you and your clients travel to.

You can do this by:

• Distributing the Don’t Let Child Abuse Travel! postcard to raise awareness about amongst Australian travellers about the Australia Child Sex Tourism law and how to report any concerns or suspicions of Australians abusing children when travelling overseas.

• Contacting Child Wise to discuss Child Wise Tourism training for your tourism company.

• You can report any of your concerns to Child Wise by calling 1800 99 10 99 or email us or to the Australian Federal Police (Transnational and Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team - TSETT) or call them on 1800 813 784.

Learn more:

• Fact sheets on child sexual abuse and exploitation
• Learn more about Child Wise
• Purchase/download resources