Christmas warning as child experts reveal how predators are grooming children
Abuse victim-survivor Louise Edmonds says Aussie parents often miss early red flags because predators deliberately appear safe and helpful. See experts’ tips on how you protect your kids from child groomers these holidays.
Australia is entering one of the most dangerous periods of the year for child grooming, with experts warning predators are “hiding in plain sight” as families head into Christmas gatherings and summer holiday programs.
A new national online training program launching today (Monday) is equipping parents to detect grooming early — at the stage experts say is “most invisible yet most preventable”.
Grooming Recognition Training, created by nine leading Australian experts and survivor advocates, breaks down the subtle tactics offenders use to infiltrate families and build trust while disguising manipulation as kindness.
Abuse victim-survivor and program founder Louise Edmonds said parents often miss early red flags because predators deliberately appear safe and helpful.
“The first tactic is targeting vulnerability. Predators rarely select a child at random, they identify those who are eager to please, less confident, isolated, high-achieving, compliant, or eager for approval,” she said.
“The second tactic is positioning themselves as indispensable. They work to become the trusted adult, the mentor with special insight, the understanding coach or the funny family member.”
Ms Edmonds said grooming is rarely dramatic at first — in fact, it often looks like care.
“In the earliest stages, grooming looks nothing like harm,” she said.
“It looks like warmth, helpfulness, and interest. That’s why it is so often missed.
“Any adult seeking increasing levels of privacy with a child or young person is showing a grooming red flag, regardless of how kind, talented, reputable, or admired they are.”
Former prison officer and survivor advocate Mel Jane said her years sitting with offenders in court revealed chilling consistency in how predators justify their actions.
“There were definitely patterns in how predators justified or explained their grooming behaviours. They would minimise what they had done,” she said.
“They would say things like it wasn’t serious, it was a misunderstanding or they don’t remember.
“What stood out to me the most was the ones who would shift blame towards the child saying that they came on to them.
“Never once have I seen a Child Predator take accountability or have remorse.”
She said grooming almost always begins long before any physical contact — and often starts with the adults around the child.
“They groom parents just as much as they groom children. Parents should pay attention to overly attentive people around their child,” Ms Jane said.
“Especially if there are changes in the child’s behaviour such as withdrawing or becoming attached to a particular adult.”
Early childhood educator Sinead Stouch said the earliest signs of grooming inside childcare and school settings are often dismissed as “kindness”.
“These can include an adult giving a child special attention … or offering unnecessary physical contact such as frequent hugs or sitting the child on their lap,” she said.
“Safe adults welcome questions and accountability, while unsafe adults rely on secrecy, exclusivity and blurred boundaries.
“Noticing patterns, secrecy or ‘rule-bending’ is essential for staff to recognise these signs.”
Grooming Recognition Training will be free to access via www.groomingrecognition.com until January 1 to help families during the high-risk summer period.
