Child abuse - reporting procedures

Child protection services step in with families when there is a significant risk of harm to a child or young person. Anyone who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection from abuse or neglect can make a report to their local child protection authority. Those services assess and, where necessary, investigate whether a child is at risk of significant harm.

The aim is to provide child-centred, family-focused support that protects children from significant harm caused by abuse or neglect, particularly where a parent is unable to keep a child safe. A further aim is to make sure children are linked with appropriate support services and therapeutic care to help them manage the trauma they have experienced.

If you work with children and young people, you can help keep them safe by understanding the different types of abuse, staying alert for the signs of harm, and acting early.

Types of abuse#

Physical abuse#

Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury or physical harm inflicted on a child by another person. It can include beating, shaking, burning and assault with weapons.

Physical injury and significant harm can also result from neglect. A parent or caregiver who fails to ensure a child’s safety may expose the child to extremely dangerous or life-threatening situations that cause physical injury and significant harm.

Physical abuse also includes fabricated or induced illness, and female genital mutilation (FGM) — all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs, for cultural or any non-therapeutic reasons.

Sexual abuse#

Child sexual abuse covers a wide range of sexual activity. It may include fondling genitals, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by finger, penis or any other object, voyeurism and exhibitionism. It can also include exploitation through pornography or prostitution. A failure to protect a child from sexual abuse may occur where a parent lacks the capacity to protect the child.

Emotional abuse#

Emotional abuse occurs when a child is repeatedly rejected, isolated or frightened by threats, or by witnessing family violence. It includes hostility, derogatory name-calling and put-downs, or persistent coldness, to the point where the child’s behaviour is disturbed or their emotional development is at serious risk.

Family violence includes behaviour that is threatening or coercive, or that controls or dominates a family member and makes them fear for their own safety or wellbeing, or that of another person. Children and young people are recognised as victim survivors in their own right, with unique experiences, vulnerabilities and needs. Planning with families needs to pay attention to the perpetrator’s patterns of coercive control and to the recovery needs of both the child and the adult victim survivor, alongside strategies that hold the perpetrator accountable while supporting everyone’s safety.

Neglect#

Neglect is a failure to provide a child with an adequate standard of nutrition, medical care, clothing, shelter or supervision, to the point where the child’s health or development is significantly impaired or seriously at risk. A child is also neglected if they are left uncared for over long periods or abandoned.

Recognising the signs#

People who work with children should pay attention to possible indicators of harm. Physical signs can include bruises, burns, fractures (broken bones), frequent hunger, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or poor hygiene. There may also be behavioural signs. Each situation is different.

Responding to concerns#

When deciding on the most effective response to keep a child safe, you may need to gather information and facts. Helpful steps can include:

• Make notes – record what you observe, then date and sign the entry.
• Consult colleagues – compare notes and consider possible strategies together.
• Follow your procedures – familiarise yourself with your employer’s processes for what to do.
• Work with other services – collaborate with family support, community health, local government and disability services. You may want to call a case conference for professionals to discuss their concerns.
• Talk to the child – with respect for their need for privacy and confidentiality. Your role is to provide support, not to investigate.
• Talk to the parents – but only if you believe it will not jeopardise the child’s safety or compromise an investigation.

If you have a reasonable belief that a child is being abused in any form, do not wait. Contact your local child protection service and, if a child is in immediate danger, the police.

Mandatory reporting#

In many places, certain professional groups are legally required to report to child protection when they form a reasonable belief that a child has been, or is at risk of, significant harm from physical or sexual abuse, and the parents or carers are unable or unwilling to protect the child. These groups commonly include doctors, nurses and midwives, police officers, teachers and school principals, out-of-home care workers, early childhood workers, youth justice workers, psychologists, school counsellors and people in religious ministry. Local laws define exactly who is a mandated reporter and what must be reported.

If you are a mandated reporter:

• You are legally obliged to report if you believe, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection from physical or sexual abuse.
• You must report each time you become aware of further grounds for your belief, as soon as practicable.
• You are encouraged to report other serious concerns about a child’s need for protection.

Keep in mind:

• You don’t have to prove abuse has occurred. The child protection service makes the assessment and investigates if needed.
• You are obliged to report even if someone in authority directs you not to.
• Reporting your belief is your responsibility, not your manager’s or supervisor’s. However, if you honestly and reasonably believe all the grounds have already been reported by someone else, that is a valid reason not to make the same report.

Mandatory reporting requirements generally take precedence over professional codes where confidentiality or client privilege would otherwise apply. In most jurisdictions, a report made in good faith does not amount to unprofessional conduct or a breach of ethics, and does not expose the reporter to liability.

How to make a report#

To report a concern that a child needs protection, contact the child protection intake service for the area where the child lives as soon as possible. Most reports are made by phone. The intake worker will ask for certain information, which may include:

• the child’s name, age and address
• the reason for your concern and a description of what you have observed
• any information about the safety of the child and the whereabouts of the alleged abuser
• any cultural or other details that will help care for the child, such as cultural background, or interpreter or disability needs

Make a report even if you don’t have all of this information. The reporter’s identity is generally protected unless they consent to it being disclosed or a court requires it.

When child protection becomes involved, this can be a crisis for the family. After making a report, your ongoing role can include:

• continuing to monitor the child’s behaviour and circumstances for signs of reduced or increased risk
• helping the family make the changes needed to keep the child safe
• acting as a support person for the child during interviews
• attending case conferences and participating in case planning
• providing written reports for case planning or court proceedings

If a concern is life-threatening or a child is in immediate danger, contact the police or emergency services straight away. Outside normal hours, many areas have an after-hours child protection emergency service. If you are seriously concerned about a child’s wellbeing but do not believe they need protection or are in immediate danger, a referral to a family support service may be appropriate.

Key points#

• Anyone who reasonably believes a child needs protection from abuse or neglect can report it to their local child protection service.
• Abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional, and neglect is also a form of significant harm.
• If a child is in immediate danger, contact the police or emergency services without delay.
• In many places, certain professionals are mandated reporters and are legally required to report; local laws set out who and what.
• You do not need to prove abuse — child protection assesses and investigates — and a report made in good faith is generally protected.

Where to get help#