AVA aimed to capture the insights of child-on-child Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) victim-survivors about their experiences, impacts and service needs. 

1. What is the nature of victim-survivor’s experience of child-on-child HSB? 

2. How do victim-survivors construct their experience of child-on-child HSB? 

3. How were constructs co-produced between victim-survivors and researchers? 

4. How are victim-survivors impacted by child-on-child HSB? 

5. What do victim-survivors need from the service system? 

Publications

McKibbin, G., Kuruppu, J., Hackett, S., Hamilton, B., Humphreys, C., & Lynch, O. (2026). “The Victims Become the Scapegoats”-Victim-Survivors’ Experiences of Children’s Harmful Sexual Behavior. Victims & Offenders, 21(2), 258-279.  

McKibbin, G., Kuruppu, J., Hackett, S., Lynch, O., Hamilton, B., & Dixon, S. (2025). The child behind the victim: Survivor experiences of children’s harmful sexual behavior. Child Abuse & Neglect, 163, 107277. doi.org:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107277 

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au