Someone can make a report to the Department
Anyone who is concerned that children may be at risk of harm can tell the Department about their concerns. This is called making a report.
Reports can also be made when someone is pregnant, before they have a baby.
Reports may be made if children are:
- exposed to domestic and family violence
- at risk of physical, sexual or psychological or emotional abuse
- at risk of neglect
- exposed to illegal drug use or excessive alcohol use.
The law says some people must make a report
Some people like police, school teachers, nurses and doctors are ‘mandatory reporters.’ This means if they think children are at risk of harm, the law says they must tell the Department. The laws that say who must report children at risk to the Department are different in each State and Territory.
Other people like friends, family or neighbours may contact the Department if they are worried about your children’s safety.
Mostly, you won’t know that someone has made a report about your family unless the Department investigates that report. The identity of who made the report is generally kept confidential.
When the Department gets a report, they may investigate to find out if there are any risks to your children’s safety, and how they can help to keep them safe. They don’t investigate every report.
If the Department gets involved with your family, it’s important to get get legal adviceACTNSWNTQldSATasVicWA.
For more information, see resources.
Also see:
- The Department wants to talk to me about my children
- Who do I call if I’m worried a child is at risk of harm?
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Community Services – Child Concern Reports: What are they are what does it mean if someone makes a report about my child?
- Community Services – Why Child Protection take Court Action
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Legal Aid NSW – Community Services want to talk about my kids: what will happen? – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese
- Family and Community Services – What to expect when a caseworker visits
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- NT Law Handbook – Child Welfare
- NT Legal Aid Commission – Child protection matters
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women – Protecting children
- Legal Aid Qld – Child Protection Legal Information
- Queensland Law Handbook – Reporting concerns about Child Abuse or Neglect
- South West Brisbane CLC – Information Kit on Child Protection for Parents
Video
- Queensland Government – Mandatory Reporting on Child Protection
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- SA Law Handbook – Notification
- SA Law Handbook – Investigation and Intervention
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Visit from Child Protection
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Child Protection Process
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Child Safety Information Sheets and Resources
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Child Protection Manual – When Child Protection Workers Visit – available in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Victoria Legal Aid – Being Investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
====================== Collapse Start Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
- Department for Child Protection – If we contact you about your child
- Department for Child Protection – What Does it Mean?
- Legal Aid WA – Child Protection Investigation
- The Family Inclusion Network of WA – Finding your way with the Department
====================== Collapse Ends Here. Do not Edit Here ========================
call 