Mandatory Reporting Policy
Mandatory Reporting Policy
Mandatory Reporting Policy
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Child Protection
(Office Hours)
Child Protection Emergency Services:
Phone:
Phone:
A report to Child Protection should be considered if, after taking into account all of the available
information, the staff member forms a view that the child or young person is in need of protection
because:
the harm or risk of harm has a serious impact on the childs immediate safety, stability or
development
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the harm or risk of harm is persistent and entrenched and is likely to have a serious impact on
the childs safety, stability or development
the childs parents cannot or will not protect the child or young person from harm.
Where during the course of carrying out their normal duties, a staff member forms the belief on
reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection, the staff member must make a report to Child
Protection regarding this belief and the reasonable grounds for it as soon as practicable.
Staff members may form a professional judgement or belief, in the course of undertaking their
professional duties based on:
warning signs or indicators of harm that have been observed or inferred from information
about the child
legal requirements, such as mandatory reporting
knowledge of child and adolescent development
consultation with colleagues and other professionals
professional obligations and duty-of-care responsibilities
established protocols
internal policies and procedures in an individual licensed childrens service or school.
Upon receipt of a report, Child Protection may seek further information, usually from professionals who
may also be involved with the child or family, to determine whether further action is required.
In most circumstances, Child Protection will inform the reporter of the outcome of the report. When the
report is classified by Child Protection as a Wellbeing Report, Child Protection will, in turn, make a
referral to Child FIRST.
Any person who is registered as a teacher under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, or any
person who has been granted permission to teach under that Act, including principals, is mandated to
make a report to Child Protection. In the course of undertaking their professional duties, mandated
staff members are required to report their belief, when the belief is formed on reasonable grounds, that
a child is in need of protection from significant harm as a result of sexual abuse or physical injury.
College policy and procedures stipulate how teaching staff fulfil their duty of care towards children and
young people in their College.
Teachers are encouraged to discuss any concerns about the safety and wellbeing of students with the
College principal or a member of the College leadership team. If a principal or member of the College
leadership team does not wish to make a mandatory report, this does not discharge the teachers
obligation to do so if they have formed a reasonable belief that abuse may have occurred. If the
teachers concerns continue, even after consultation with the principal, that teacher is still legally
obliged to make a mandatory report of their concerns.
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Information about the identity of a person making a report to Child Protection must be kept confidential
unless the reporter consents to the disclosure of their identity. If the staff member wishes to remain
anonymous, this information should be conveyed at the time that the reporter makes the mandatory
report.
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A staff member may be identified as a support person for the child or young person during the
interview. Prior to the commencement of the interview, the Child Protection practitioner should always
authorise the College staff member to receive information regarding Child Protections investigation.
This may occur verbally or in writing.
Independent persons must refrain from providing their opinions or accounts of events during
interviews. A Principal or their delegate may act as an independent person when the child or young
person is to be interviewed, unless they believe that doing so will create a conflict of interest.
Advising parents, carers or guardians
Staff do not require the permission of parents, carers or guardians to make a report to Child
Protection, nor are they required to tell parents, carers or guardians that they have done so.
It is the responsibility of Child Protection to advise the parents, carers or guardians of the interview at
the earliest possible opportunity. This should occur either before, or by the time the child arrives home
Ensuring that a Child Protection interview takes place
The College does not have the power to prevent parents, carers or guardians from removing their
children from the College and should not attempt to prevent the parents, carers or guardians from
collecting the child. If a parent/carer or guardian removes a child before a planned interview has taken
place, the Principal and/or their nominee should contact Child Protection or Victoria Police
immediately.
Evaluation:
COMMUNICATION and EVALUATION
A copy of this policy and the associated planning documents will be provided to all staff annually.
This policy will be reviewed annually and revised as required.
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