The MacKillop Institute is proud to support the release of DNX media’s feature film, The Children in the Pictures – screening in cinemas across Australia. This groundbreaking film goes inside Task Force Argos, an Australian-based investigative team dedicated to infiltrating global criminal networks and rescuing children from online sexual abuse.

The timely release comes as The MacKillop Institute has partnered with Westpac to offer Power to Kids to all residential care providers in Australia, empowering them to respond to the sexual exploitation of young people in residential care.

Devastatingly, child sexual abuse impacts some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Cases of child sexual abuse are on the rise, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Criminals who sexually harm children, both online and offline, are becoming increasingly sophisticated, operating in networks and sharing strategies on grooming children and young people. The most skilled amongst them have evaded law enforcers for years.

As the film highlights, we all have a role to play in keeping children safe from online sexual abuse. The work of Argos is just one element of a multifaceted and multisystemic response.

The Children in the Pictures is not just a film – it’s a multi-year impact campaign to help in making the internet a safer place for children and young people.

The MacKillop Institute is an ally of the campaign and we are whole heartedly behind this. We’ll share the messages of hope and prevention and we’ll continue to share links to events of interest, stories of impact, resources and opportunities to get involves as they arise.

We believe, along with the filmmakers, that it’s time to break the silence on the issue that thrives in secrecy – online child sexual abuse.