'Grooming Hides Behind Harmless' tackles taboo topic

Australia's national child sexual abuse prevention charity Bravehearts tackles the hugely uncomfortable issue of child grooming / child abuse in this visually engaging tale with a twist. The charity invites us to learn how to recognise the signs (https://bravehearts.org.au/about-child-sexual-abuse/what-is-grooming/), defining grooming like this: "Grooming describes the preparatory (or ‘lead up’) stage of child sexual abuse that offenders use to gain the trust and compliance of the child or young person (and those around them) and to establish secrecy and silence to avoid disclosure. Grooming may occur in person (contact grooming) or online". The charity reminds us that: "It can be difficult to detect sexual grooming because many grooming behaviours resemble normal adult-child interactions (Jeglic, Winters & Johnson, 2023). However, there are common patterns of behaviour among offenders that may help us recognise when a child is potentially being groomed. While red flags may not necessarily mean a child is being groomed, being aware of these ‘red flag’ behaviours can help parents, caretakers and organisations interrupt and even prevent the grooming process". It's widely acknowledged that parents are experiencing more anxiety than ever as they struggle to ensure a safe childhood - and that that very anxiety can create its own issues, such as over-protective parenting, and anxious children. While acknowledging the increasing role of online, this campaign brings us right to the crux of innocence and intimacy where damge can be done, by using happy, colourful and caring scenes of childhood. What do you think of it? A bit over-played, sadly more necessary than ever, a powerful reminder?

Keywords: Bravehearts 'Grooming Hides Behind Harmless', child abuse campaigns, taboo topics, public service announcements, child grooming, PSAs, Taxi Films, Bravehearts Australia, Engine agency