The Supporting Hands information session was held at the Bega Valley Shire Council chambers and was part of a week-long visit from child safety advocate Bravehearts, which is taking its message to more than 1000 children throughout primary schools and day care centres in the district.

The visit has been made possible through sponsorship from Bega Cheese.

At Monday’s night’s free information session, Justice Paul Conlon, representatives from local schools, pre-schools, police, social services, Scouts and Guides, council and library staff joined interested – and concerned - members of the wider community.

“Concerned” because the Bravehearts visit was prompted by the high-profile child sexual assault case of Maurice Van Ryn.

Self-confessed paedophile Van Ryn is to be sentenced on multiple acts of child sexual assault in a Sydney court on June 17.

The case has generated widespread media attention and community debate, and also attracted the interest of Bravehearts, whose aim is to “make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child by 2020”.

Delivering that message is the role of the Bravehearts team who presented Monday’s session.

They were welcomed by Deputy Mayor and chairwoman of the Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network Liz Seckold, who first introduced Sascha Chandler, an international financial advisor who brought his own childhood abuser – Andrew McIntosh - to justice in 2011.

He briefly outlined his own quest to see his long-time abuser brought to justice, and commended the “courageous and brave” children who spoke out about Van Ryn, saying that was “an extraordinary step that deserves to be applauded”.

“This is such a beautiful place,” he said.

“It’s such a shame we are meeting under these circumstances.”

Mr Chandler said the three piers of Bravehearts’ message are Educate, Empower and Protect.

He outlined the various programs the organisation has designed and delivers to school children as well as parents and communities.

The major focus of this week’s visit is to educate children, helping them recognise “Yes” and “No” feelings, and to empower them to seek support from trusted adults.

It is also about giving those adults the tools to be able to know what to look for in children and the language to be able to speak with them about sensitive issues.

“We have to get rid of the silence, the secrecy and the shame,” said Sharon Stewart, Bravehearts’ education manager.

“Kids have this innate ability to recognise feelings that aren’t okay – a fast-beating heart for example.

“We know offenders single out those who may already be vulnerable, so we need to build resilience in children and teach them to be confident enough to go to a trusted adult and say ‘this doesn’t feel right’.

“The more tools we can impart, the safer the community will be.”

Bravehearts' award-winning education module, Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure, is being delivered to pre-schools and primary schools throughout the Bega district all this week.

One in five people will experience sexual assault before the age of 18.

That’s according to "despicable" statistics revealed by Bravehearts during Monday night’s community information session.

NSW case manager Deanne Gardiner said sexual assault can be verbal and emotional as well as physical.

She said any exposure to sexual activity for a child under 18 years old – even including suggestive language and viewing pornography – is considered a crime.

While in years gone by the message to children was “stranger danger”, it is now known between 70 and 90 per cent of all child sexual assault is perpetrated by someone known to the child or family.

Up to 10.6 per cent of offenders are women – although the overwhelming majority of cases brought before the courts are male offenders.

Ms Gardiner said long-term effects of child sexual assault can be substance misuse, the need for mental health services or meeting a mental health diagnosis in adulthood, difficulties parenting or with relationships, self-harm or suicide.

“It’s up to us as a community to look at our children and recognise changes – be curious about them,” she said.

“Behavioural indicators won’t necessarily mean sexual assault, but be curious.

“Having a parent who believes and supports their child has been shown to be the strongest indicator of positive outcomes into adulthood,” she said.

Need to talk to someone?

Bravehearts: 1800 272 831

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Lifeline: 13 11 14