Child Protection Reporting Policy Attachment 2

1 RESPONDING TO 2 REPORTING TO AUTHORITIES
AN EMERGENCY 3 CONTACTING
PARENTS/CARERS 4 PROVIDING
ONGOING
SUPPORT
YOU MUST TAKE ACTION
Responding to Incidents, Disclosures
and Suspicions of Child Abuse
* A reasonable belief is a deliberately low threshold. This enables authorities to investigate and take action.
• You must act, by following
the 4 critical actions, as soon
as you witness an incident,
receive a disclosure or
form a reasonable belief
that a child has, or is at
risk of being abused.
• You must act if you form a
suspicion/reasonable belief,
even if you are unsure and
have not directly observed
child abuse (e.g. if the victim
or another person tells
you about the abuse).
• You must use the
Responding to Suspected
Child Abuse template
to keep clear and
comprehensive notes.
As soon as immediate health and safety concerns are addressed you must report all incidents, suspicions and disclosures
of child abuse as soon as possible. Failure to report physical and sexual child abuse may amount to a criminal offence.
If a child is at immediate risk of harm
you must ensure their safety by:
• separating alleged victims
and others involved
• administering first aid
• calling 000 for urgent medical
and/or police assistance
to respond to immediate
health or safety concerns
• identifying a contact person at the
school for future liaison with Police.
Where necessary you may also
need to maintain the integrity of
the potential crime scene and
preserve evidence.
FOUR CRITICAL ACTIONS FOR SCHOOLS
You must also report internally to:
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
You must also report to:
• School Principal and/or
leadership team
• DET Security Services Unit
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
You must also report to:
• School Principal and/or
leadership team
• Diocesan education office
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
You must also report to:
• School Principal and/or
chairperson
DHHS CHILD PROTECTION
You must report to DHHS
Child Protection if a child
is considered to be:
• in need of protection
from child abuse
• at risk of being harmed (or has
been harmed) and the harm has
had, or is likely to have, a serious
impact on the child’s safety,
stability or development.
VICTORIA POLICE
You must also report all instances of
suspected sexual abuse (including
grooming) to Victoria Police.
Your Principal must consult
with DHHS Child Protection or
Victoria Police to determine what
information can be shared with
parents/carers. They may advise:
• not to contact the parents/
carer (e.g. in circumstances
where the parents are alleged
to have engaged in the abuse,
or the child is a mature minor
and does not wish for their
parent/carer to be contacted)
• to contact the parents/carers and
provide agreed information (this
must be done as soon as possible,
preferably on the same day of the
incident, disclosure or suspicion).
Your school must provide
support for children impacted
by abuse. This should include the
development of a Student Support
Plan in consultation with wellbeing
professionals. This is an essential part
of your duty of care requirements.
Strategies may include
development of a safety plan,
direct support and referral to
wellbeing professionals.
CONTACT
DHHS CHILD PROTECTION
AREA
North Division 1300 664 9777
South Division 1300 655 795
East Division 1300 360 391
West Division (Rural) 1800 075 599
West Division (Metro) 1300 664 9777
AFTER HOURS
After hours, weekends,
public holidays 13 12 78
CHILD FIRST
www.dhs.vic.gov.au
VICTORIA POLICE
000 or your local police station
DET SECURITY SERVICES UNIT
(03) 9589 6266
STUDENT INCIDENT
AND RECOVERY UNIT
(03) 9637 2934
EMPLOYEE CONDUCT BRANCH
(03) 9637 2595
DIOCESAN OFFICE
Melbourne (03) 9267 0228
Ballarat (03) 5337 7135
Sale (03)5622 6600
Sandhurst (03) 5443 2377
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
VICTORIA
(03) 9825 7200
Q: Where does the source of suspected abuse come from?
VICTORIA POLICE
You must report all instances of
suspected child abuse involving a
school staff member, contractor
or volunteer to Victoria Police.
You must also report internally to:
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
• School Principal and/
or leadership team
• Employee Conduct Branch
• DET Security Services Unit
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
• School Principal and/
or leadership team
• Diocesan education office
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
• School Principal and/
or school chairperson
WITHIN THE FAMILY OR COMMUNITY
If there is no risk of immediate
harm go to Action 2.
You must follow the Four Critical
Actions every time you become
aware of a further instance or risk
of abuse. This includes reporting
new information to authorities.
WITHIN THE SCHOOL
As a school staff member, you play a critical role in protecting children in your care.
If you believe that a child is not subject to abuse, but you still hold
significant concerns for their wellbeing you must still act.
This may include making a referral or seeking advice from Child
FIRST (in circumstances where the family are open to receiving
support), or to DHHS Child Protection or Victoria Police.