AFP commander Helen Schneider said it was an unfortunate reality that innocently posted pictures can be shared or alerted by people with bad intentions.

“While these incidents are rare, the sad reality is they do happen, which is why we are urging families to be proactive with keeping their child’s information safe as the 2025 school year gets underway,” Schneider said.

“Seemingly innocuous details — such as a child or young person’s favourite hobby or a street address visible on the front door— can enable offenders to build a profile of the child with the intent of grooming them, or even manipulating parents or carers to gain access or leverage,” Schneider said.

Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.