The pilot program, which is run by Victoria Police and the Department of Health and Human Services, aims to assist vulnerable teenagers often living in residential care across the city.

Girls at risk of being sexually exploited sometimes sneak out at night to binge with men, who are typically aged in their 20s to 40s, after meeting on Facebook or Snapchat, a source said.

Senior Sergeant Tim Argall, who heads up Ballarat’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team, said his unit was slowly making progress since the taskforce was established in June last year.

“Building rapport and trust with these children does not happen overnight,” he said.

“In many cases we are trying to undo many years of cumulative harm that these children have been subjected to.” 

Under the program, DHHS workers and police meet monthly, sharing intelligence and taking out intervention orders on potential abusers to stop sexual exploitation.

However, a member within the Ballarat police force, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the team was struggling with stretched resources and needed more funding.

In response, Victoria Police spokeswoman Hannah McDonald said an independent review of the pilot was under way.

“(It) will thoroughly assess the model to provide the necessary data and evidence to help inform what investment is required for its operation into the future,” she said.

Across Victoria, more than 60 charges have been laid and 450 harbouring notices issued, warning people to not associate with certain children.

Senior Sergeant Argall said charging offenders was just one objective.

“We are trying to show these children that they can trust police, we will listen to them and we will act on the information they provide to us, but this all takes time,” he said.

“We are hoping that this pilot is the first step on the journey towards that outcome.”