Disturbing scale of child abuse delivers 'wake-up call'

Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds says there's an urgent need for a child wellbeing strategy. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children is "disturbingly prevalent" across Australia, triggering calls for urgent government action to protect the nation's youth.

One in three children experience physical abuse and one in four experience sexual abuse, according to a Queensland University of Technology survey of 8500 Australians published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday.