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You have the right to feel safe all the time, and it is not OK for a parent to hit you. It is very important to talk to someone and get help - but make sure you do so in a way that will keep you safe.

If you are being abused you should talk to an adult you trust, like a close friend, your doctor, School Based Youth Health Nurse, Guidance Officer or a teacher. People like teachers, doctors and police are ‘mandatory reporters’ and are required by law to make a report if they think you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing abuse.

If you are in immediate danger of being hurt or abused, do not hesitate to call the police on 000 and if you can, try to go to a secure place like to a trusted family friend, your school, a police station, or a medical centre.

There are also several telephone services that can give you support and advice about violence and abuse.

  • Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800: This is a service for people between 5 and 25 years of age and they are available 24 hours. There is also lots of information on their website, along with web-based chat - www.kidshelpline.com.au
  • Family and Child Connect on 13 32 64 – This is a Queensland based service that is there to provide free, unlimited and confidential advice, and can help you to make a confidential report if you choose to do so.

Finally, well done for choosing to speak up and ask this question. It is not at all easy to talk about family violence, and it took a lot of courage to submit this question. Please stay safe, and we wish you all the best.

~ Bonnie

There are a number of things to keep in mind when you are entering a sexual relationship. Firstly there is the issue of consent.  By law, in QLD, a person under the age of 16 cannot give consent.  Consent needs to be free, willing and enthusiastic, so spend a bit of time thinking yourself, and talking to your partner about your feelings and readiness for a sexual relationship.  Are you both able to speak freely to each about what you are comfortable doing, and any boundaries that you have?  Are you confident that you both feel the same way and no one is feeling pressured by expectations?  You have the responsibility to ensure that your partner feels safe and supported, and they have the responsibility as well to ensure that you feel the same way. 

Establishing those great communication skills and a healthy and free relationship is a great start, but remember as well that consent is an ongoing conversation.  You or your partner can stop or change your mind, and it’s both of your responsibility to make sure you check in and make sure that you have consent throughout.  This doesn’t have to be weird or awkward - just ask ‘is this ok?”, or “do you like that?” and it can be a fun and sexy part of sex. 

There are also responsibilities around sexual health. Some people like to go for a sexual health check before entering a sexual relationship with a new partner.  Not only do you ensure that you are healthy, but it also gives you the opportunity to discuss any questions you may have with a health professional.  Even after a health check it is always important to use protection such as condoms, which protect against sexually transmitted infections as well as helping to prevent unwanted pregnancy.  Well done for thinking about responsibilities before taking this step in your life! 

~ Bonnie 

It is normal for humans to feel the whole spectrum of emotions from joy and excitement to sadness and anger. When you begin puberty, your body is experiencing many changes caused by hormones. Hormones are like messengers in your body that control everything! They control your growth and development, but also your mood.   

When you are in your teen years you have a huge amount of hormonal change and this can impact your mood significantly resulting in you experiencing emotional reactions that might not seem logical given the circumstances. For example, you might get really angry or sad and you might not know why. I want to assure you, this is normal during puberty.  This can be a really tough thing to go through and its important you are kind to yourself when this happens. Find ways of releasing these emotions that help you such as exercising, talking to friends and family about how you are feeling, and journaling. Journaling not only gives you a way of expressing your emotions but can also serve as a resource to look back on to see what helped you feel better when you were feeling sad or angry so that when you feel that way again you might be able to try a self- care strategy that has worked before.  

Most importantly, reach out for help, try your friends and family, or a counsellor, and there is always Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) available as well.  

~ Christie  

I am really sorry to hear your mum does not believe you. That is an extremely tough place to be in. I would highly recommend you try to contact a counsellor, perhaps one that specialises in intimate partner violence, sexual assault and/or youth (depending what you have been through) to work through what happened. Unfortunately there are people out there that will not believe you so it is important to seek support from people who will believe and support you.

Here are some services that can help:

All the best.

~ Christie