Who can commit the offence? The offence can be committed by any person aged 18 years or over. It does not apply to communication between people who are both under 18 years of age.
Anyone can be a victim.
No one is immune to grooming, though some are more susceptible than others — including minors, "because of their naiveté,” Marlowe Garrison says. “[Grooming] can occur at any age, and it has a great deal to do with gullibility, insecurity, religion, and culture.
No child under the age of 13 can ever consent to sexual activity. This means that if a child under 13 is effectively groomed and a sexual act takes place as a result, this is automatically classified as rape and carries a maximum life sentence.
From my understanding grooming can happen when there is some form of a relationship between a young and more impressionable person and a much older person (let's say like 10+ years) where the younger person is molded to the older person's wants in a way that may be inappropriate and even creepy.
While these tactics are used most often against younger kids, teens and vulnerable adults are also at risk. Grooming can take place online or in-person.
Is 19 and 17 grooming? Yes, it is. Grooming isn't about age, it's about authority and power.
You may have heard the term as it applies to children, but adults can also groom other adults – even at work. By definition, grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with someone so they can manipulate, exploit and/or abuse them.
What Is the Meaning of Child Grooming? Adults who build stable and trusting relationships with a child under 18 for the purpose of sexually assaulting the minor are considered groomers. As such, you could face state and federal charges for child grooming if the alleged victim is under 15.
Studies have found partners with more than a 10-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
It often starts with friendship. The groomer will look for ways to gain their target's trust, often with gifts or promises. Eventually they'll start to ask for something in return, and this eventually leads to abuse. Because groomers work to befriend their victims, some organisations refer to it as “mate crime”.
Yes, it is. Grooming isn't about age, it's about authority and power.
Following a grooming experience, the child may suffer numerous negative effects such as embarrassment, irritability, anxiety, stress, depression, and substance abuse. Even in the absence of physical sexual abuse, the child may be traumatized and suffer long-lasting emotional damage caused by non-contact sexual abuse.
“When there is a significant difference in age, like 10 to 15 years or more, life experiences can be vastly different.” In relationships with a large emotional maturity gap, the more mature partner could end up carrying a heavier emotional load in the relationship, leading to exhaustion and potentially a breakup.
Stereotypes aside, many women cite maturity, wisdom, and financial stability as good reasons to date men who are older. But is there too much of a good thing?
What is the best age gap? 2 year age gap pros and cons. A lot of families who hope to have two or more children aim for a two year age gap as the best age gap between siblings. They're close enough in age to play together but it's slightly less of a shock to the system than tackling two under two (at least in theory)!
The offence of child grooming carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. There is often significant interest from the local and national media in these investigations, which can place the defendant under immense pressure and stress and do irreparable damage to a person's reputation, relationships and career.
Dating and relationships
In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below!)
The legal age for consensual sex varies between 16 and 17 years across Australian state and territory jurisdictions (see Table 2). For other sexual activities, the criminal legislation relating to different types of sexual behaviours and interactions varies across Australian jurisdictions.
Having sex with someone who is under the age of consent is a crime. In California, it is statutory rape. It is considered rape because it cannot be consensual. The young age of one of the people involved prevents them from consenting.
It is completely normal. It is not a big age gap and both are legally of age, both the age of consent and the age of majority.
Targeting specific kids for special attention, gifts or activities. Slowly isolating a kid from family members and friends – physically and emotionally. Undermining relationships with parents and friends to show that “no one understands you like I do.” Gradually pushing or crossing physical boundaries.