Against the backdrop of National Child Protection Week (6 -12 September), a new children’s storybook designed to help young children recognise healthy relationships, respect personal boundaries, and speak up when something is wrong, was launched by Loving for Life WA.
The Secret Tom Didn’t Keep is the first book to be produced by Loving for Life WA, marking a significant step in the organisation’s commitment to promoting child wellbeing and empowering families, schools and parishes with practical resources.
The project began with a simple goal: to create an age-appropriate story that could gently introduce children aged six to ten to important concepts such as healthy relationships, trusted adults, personal safety and recognising when online content is unsafe or appropriate.
More primary-aged children are being exposed to inappropriate online material, with many now asking questions that were once typically asked by teenagers.
These observations are reflected in national research. In 2025, the Australian eSafety Commission published its report, Digital Use and Risk: Online Platform Engagement Among Children aged 10 to 15. They surveyed 2629 Australian children, and the report found that 71 per cent had encountered harmful online content, 52 per cent had experienced cyberbullying, 24 per cent had experienced online sexual harassment, 23 per cent had been subjected to non-consensual tracking, monitoring or harassment, 14 per cent had encountered online grooming-type behaviour, and eight per cent had experienced image-based abuse.
While these statistics relate to children aged 10 to 15, the foundations of online risk begin much earlier, as children access connected devices and interactive digital platforms from a much younger age.
“A child today can view material no child should ever see in the space of half a minute,” Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton notes in the book’s foreword.
“Most parents I speak with already know this. What they ask for is help finding the words. The Secret Tom Didn’t Keep offers those words.”
Continuing, Bishop Don said the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults “cannot rest on policies, training and reporting alone.”
“It has to reach the kitchen table and the bedtime story, and it has to give children the plain sentences they need when something frightens them.”
Recognising the importance of developing a resource that was both educational and sensitive, Loving for Life WA sought out the guidance of Andrea Musulin, Inaugural Director of the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Office.
Andrea’s expertise was a perfect fit for the project. Andrea served for 30 years with Western Australin Police specialising in domestic violence and child abuse, founded the WA Child Protection Society (WACPS) in 2004, was inducted into the Western Australian Inaugural Women’s Hall of Fame in Perth as a pioneer and leader in the child protection industry in 2011. She has also previously authored several books on safeguarding.
Andrea agreed to write the content for The Secret Tom Didn’t Keep, ensuring the story presents these important themes in a gentle, age-appropriate and Christ-centred way.
Funding for the project was generously provided by The Knights of the Southern Cross.
“The contribution (from Andrea and the Knights), has enabled us to create a resource that helps parents and educators equip young children with the awareness and words they need to recognise and respond to harmful online material,” said Tina Jack, a Director of Loving for Life WA.
The Secret Tom Didn’t Keep was launched by the Shadow Minister for Child Protection, the Hon Nick Goiran, who described the book as “truly faith in action.”
“We want to see every child flourish, and this is a wonderful way to ensure that children are best equipped at a time that would be most difficult for them,” he added.
For parents too, he said it would be impossible for them “not to learn something when they are reading this book with their children.”
For further information and to purchase the book, visit https://lovingforlife.org/book-orders/
