Mandatory Reporting
| Principle | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Legal duty | If you are in a “mandated occupation” and form a reasonable belief (or suspicion, depending on the Act) that a child is being—or is likely to be—abused, you must notify the statutory child‑protection agency as soon as practicable. Delay can attract criminal or disciplinary penalties. |
| Threshold | “Reasonable” = more than a hunch; you have factual indicators, a credible disclosure, or professional observations. You do not need proof. |
| Good‑faith protection | All jurisdictions protect reporters from civil/criminal liability and keep identities confidential when the report is made honestly. |
| No consent required | You do not need (and should not seek) parental consent to report. |
| Ongoing duty of care | Reporting does not end your clinical responsibility; continue to treat, monitor and support the child. |
harm you should always consider reporting:
| Category of concern | Typical examples you might observe/receive | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Physical abuse | Unexplained bruises, burns, fractures, shaken‑baby injuries | Mandatory in all jurisdictions (thresholds vary) |
| Sexual abuse / exploitation / grooming | Disclosure of sexual acts, STIs, explicit images, online grooming, FGM, forced marriage | Mandatory everywhere; WA mandates only sexual abuse Western Australian Government |
| Neglect | Failure to provide food, shelter, supervision, essential medical care, chronic “failure to thrive” | Mandatory in NSW, SA, TAS, NT; voluntary (but strongly advised) elsewhere |
| Emotional / psychological abuse | Persistent scapegoating, terrorising, severe rejection, drug‑affected caregiving | Mandatory in NSW, SA, TAS, NT; voluntary elsewhere |
| Exposure to domestic & family violence | Child witnesses assaults, property damage, coercive control | Explicit ROSH trigger in NSW, SA, TAS, NT; voluntary elsewhere Schn Health Resources |
| Risk of significant harm (cumulative / unborn) | Multiple lower‑level concerns that together pose serious risk; risk to unborn child | NSW: “Risk of significant harm” test (incl. unborn) NSW Health |
| Any other serious threat to safety or wellbeing | Suicidal behaviour, severe mental‑health neglect, substance‑impaired caregiving | Voluntary in every state; mandatory if it meets that state’s statutory wording |
2. State / Territory specifics at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Who is mandated?* | Abuse types that must be reported | 24 h hotline / online portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Health (all registered), teachers/early‑childhood staff, police, OOHC staff, clergy, youth workers | Physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, exposure to DV (“risk of significant harm”) | 132 111 • eReport after using Mandatory Reporter Guide |
| VIC | Doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers, school principals, police | Physical or sexual abuse causing (or likely to cause) significant harm | 13 12 78 (AH) • Local Child Protection Intake (bus. hrs) |
| QLD | Doctors, nurses, teachers, early‑childhood educators, child‑safety & police officers | Physical or sexual abuse + sig. harm; (Public Health Act extends to any sig. harm for clinicians) | 1800 177 135 (AH) • Online Child Protection Guide |
| WA | Doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers, police, clergy, early‑childhood educators (from 2024) | Sexual abuse only (mandatory) | 1800 708 704 (sexual abuse) • 1800 273 889 (other concerns, voluntary) |
| SA | Anyone working / volunteering with children (incl. all health) | All abuse, neglect, exposure to DV (“at risk”) | 13 14 78 • eCARL (non‑urgent) |
| TAS | Medical & allied health, nurses, teachers, childcare, police, psychologists, OOHC | All abuse / neglect | 1800 000 123 (“Strong Families Safe Kids”) • 1300 737 639 |
| NT | Every adult (universal duty) | All abuse / neglect | 1800 700 250 |
| ACT | Health, teachers, childcare, police, psychologists, youth & refuge workers, clergy | All abuse / neglect | 1300 556 729 • CYPS e‑portal |
* Occupation lists are abbreviated; check the current Act/Regulation for precise wording.
3. Clinician workflow (5 R’s)
- Recognise
Use your clinical eyes and ears. Indicators may be physical (bruising, bites), behavioural (regression, hypersexuality), or situational (parental drug use, DV). - Reasonable belief
- Child’s disclosure
- Observation of indicators
- Reliable third‑party information
(Document why the belief is reasonable.)
- Report immediately
- Phone the 24‑h hotline for urgent / high‑risk cases.
- Use secure online form for non‑imminent concerns where allowed.
- Provide: child details, family details, grounds for concern, safety risks, your contact.
- Record
- In the medical file: date/time, indicators, exact words disclosed, who you spoke to, intake reference number, plan.
- Review & follow‑up
- Continue clinical care.
- Note any agency feedback.
- Re‑report if new information escalates risk.
4. Practical risk‑reduction tips
- Keep a one‑page crib sheet of local hotline numbers and thresholds in every consulting room.
- Use decision‑support (e.g. NSW MRG, QLD CPG) to structure your reasoning and documentation.
- When in doubt, consult—not delay: speak to a senior colleague, child‑protection liaison officer, or your MDO, then report if threshold met.
- Emergency first: If the child’s safety is immediately threatened, dial 000, then notify child protection.
- Maintain privacy: Leave only non‑specific messages when phoning carers; use secure channels for written reports.