Show
In Victoria, any person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection from child abuse or neglect can make a report to Child Protection. Child Protection will assess and, where necessary, investigate whether the child or young person is at risk of significant harm.Child Protection is part of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. It provides child-centred, family-focused services to protect children and young people from significant harm caused by abuse or neglect within the family. It also aims to make sure that children and young people receive support to deal with the impact of abuse and neglect on their wellbeing and development. Potential signs of child abuseIf you work with children and young people, you can help to keep them safe by being alert for the signs or indicators of harm and taking appropriate action early. People who work with children and young people should pay attention to:
Each situation is different. In considering the most effective response that will ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing, you may need to gather information and facts. These could include:
The following professional groups are required to make a report to child protection where they form a reasonable belief, that a child has been or is at risk of significant harm, as a result of physical or sexual abuse, and the child’s parents have not protected or are unlikely to protect the child from that abuse:
As a mandated reporter, you are legally obliged to:
Keep in mind:
More information is available on the Department of Health and Human Services Mandatory reporting . To report child abuse, contact the divisional Child Protection intake service where the child resides as soon as possible. If you are making a report, please use the main Intake Unit number. For all other enquiries, please contact the appropriate local office. How to make a reportCall the appropriate Intake phone number. The Child Protection Intake worker will ask you for certain information, including:
A report should still be made, even if you don’t have all the information listed above. The reporter’s identity is protected unless they provide written consent for it to be disclosed or it is required by order of the Court. Your ongoing role when making a reportWhen Child Protection becomes involved, this may provoke a crisis for the family. After making a report, some of your ongoing responsibilities can include:
To make a reportIn Victoria, reports to child protection must be made to a protective intervener, or other appropriately delegated officer. Reports cannot be made via the department’s website or email, as staff who monitor the department’s website are not delegated officers. Almost all reports are made to child protection by phone. To make a report, you should contact the child protection intake service covering the local government area (LGA) where the child normally resides. Telephone numbers to make a report during business hours (8.45am -5.00pm), Monday to Friday, are listed below. If you are not sure which number to call, check the Department of Health and Human Services for details on the LGAs covered by each intake service To report concerns that are life threatening, you should contact Victoria Police: 000 To report concerns about the immediate safety of a child outside of normal business hours, you should contact the After Hours Child Protection Emergency Service on 13 12 78.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. |