BEFORE their 18th birthday, one in three girls and one in six boys in Australia will be sexually abused.

It's a scary statistic and one that Rockhampton's Anne O'Connor is determined to change.

The community entrepreneur will throw her support, and her walking shoes, behind media personality Derryn Hinch's Jail to Justice Walk this weekend.

The walk started on Saturday outside the Langi Kal Kal Prison, where Mr Hinch spent 50 days behind bars for breaching a suppression order made in the murder case of Melbourne's Jill Meagher.

Over the next week Mr Hinch and his supporters will make the 180km journey to the steps of Parliament house in Melbourne.

There they will present a petition with more than 100,000 signatures demanding a national public register of convicted sex offenders.

Anne said she was planning to join the entourage for their final leg.

"I think it's such a crucial issue," she said.

"Our greatest responsibility as adults is our children must be safe."

Having worked in welfare, Anne has seen first hand just how vulnerable children can be.

"The police can't keep up with pedophiles," she said.

"They just don't have the resources."

While Anne believes many law breakers can be rehabilitated, when it came to child sex offenders she said there should be no such thing as a second chance.

"We're talking about deeply concerning predatory behaviour," she said.

Anne said she would prefer to know if there was a sex offender living near her so she can make informed choices.

"I don't think we can just not have this because of a fear of vigilantism.

"If we can achieve this we can feel proud."

If you plan to join the walk call Anne on 0481 181 715.

JAIL TO JUSTICE

What: 180km journey from Langi Kal Kal Prison to Melbourne's Parliament house

Why: To present a petition for national public sex offender register

Who: Organised by media personality Derryn Hinch

Sign the petition at gopetition.com/petitions /protect-our-children3