Some children are at greater risk of abuse than other children or are less able to protect themselves from the risk of abuse. This would include:

• Babies
• Very young (particularly pre-verbal) children
• Children with special educational needs, disabilities or other illnesses
• Children who have been labelled as troubled or troublesome
• Children involved in risk-taking behaviours
• Children who are in the care system
• Children who are excluded from mainstream society or who live on the fringes of society
• Children who live in cultures that pose specific risks such as gang culture, cultures that have extreme views or that embrace harmful practices as acceptable