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Dr Sebastian Trew, Deakin University; Douglas Russell, Institute of Child Protection Studies; Carol Ronken, Bravehearts; Sarah Petering, Amaze
eSafety Commissioner
Digital technologies play a major role in young people’s lives and create new contexts in which sexual harm could occur. Within these contexts, a substantial proportion of sexual harm involving children and young people is enacted by peers. However, there is limited research examining the intersection of autism, online safety and technology-facilitated harmful sexual behaviours, particularly in Australia.
Existing evidence suggests that autism-related characteristics - such as differences in social communication, difficulty recognising manipulation and consent, and the use of pornography as a behavioural script - shape both vulnerability to victimisation and pathways into harmful behaviour.
These gaps in evidence and the lack of Australian data underpin the need for this study.
This project responded to concerns that autistic young people may face unique online vulnerabilities and pathways into harmful sexual behaviour that were not well understood. The study aimed to strengthen evidence to support safer digital environments and more effective prevention and intervention approaches for autistic young people
In this highly collaborative project we teamed up with researchers from Bravehearts and Amaze:
The mixed methods study combined a rapid evidence review of national and international research on technology-facilitated harmful sexual behaviours, and analysed anonymised administrative data from Bravehearts’ Turning Corners program (351 cases). We also analysed anonymised case data from Amaze’s Autism Connect helpline (65 cases). The research was also informed by practitioners, families and young people who used services at Bravehearts and Amaze.
The study examined patterns of behaviour, the situations they happen in, and how services respond. It focused on how these behaviours affect autistic adolescents and the contexts in which they occur.
The combined findings helped us identify patterns, risks and protective factors. Our findings have been submitted to the eSafety Commissioner as a research report.
| Found that online and offline harmful sexual behaviours were closely connected rather than separate issues. |
| Identified autism-related factors that increased vulnerability to both victimisation and harmful behaviour, including difficulties understanding social situations, consent and manipulation. |
| Found strong gender differences, with males more likely to display harmful sexual behaviour and females more likely to experience it. |
| Identified links between trauma, mental health concerns, lower sexual knowledge and harmful sexual behaviours. |
| Highlighted the need for neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed responses and more effective online safety and sexuality education. |
The office of the eSafety Commissioner will use these findings in their ongoing work. The findings will also be useful to child protection organisations, disability services, schools, youth justice agencies, online safety professionals and policy makers; they can use the findings to improve how they prevent, identify and respond to technology-facilitated harmful sexual behaviours involving autistic adolescents.
The recommendations provide evidence to support more effective online safety education, earlier intervention, and service responses that recognise the intersection of neurodiversity, trauma and harmful sexual behaviours. Researchers and educators can also use the findings to guide future studies, professional training and the development of evidence-informed resources that promote safer digital participation and better support for autistic young people and their families.
Trew, S., Ronken, C., Petering, S., & Russell, D.H. (2026). Exploring Technology-Facilitated Harmful Sexual Behaviours among Autistic Adolescents: Risks, Contexts, and Prevention. eSafety Commissioner.
The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at Australian Catholic University reviewed the project.
November 2025 – June 2026
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