Health
What is Mandatory Reporting?
| Certain people including doctors, nurses, teachers, principals and police officers are required to report known or reasonably suspected cases of child abuse to a government authority. This ruling varies between states. The policy within your school must be within your state's law.
Reporting of Child Abuse; the legal obligations of teachers and schools
School teachers and principals in Victoria, ACT, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia must report child abuse. In Queensland and Western Australia Mandatory Reporting is not required by teachers and principals, however they still have a moral obligation to report child abuse. |
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For full details of the Mandatory Reporting Legislation in your state go to:
www.aihw.gov.au/publications/cws/cpa00-01/cpa00-01-x04.pdf
What is classed as child abuse?
Child abuse is classified into 4 main categories:
- Non-accidental injuries as a result of physical abuse
- Sexual abuse and exploitation
- Child neglect resulting in impairment to health
- Emotional abuse causing psychological and/or emotional damage
When a teacher forms a reasonable belief that a student is abused and needs protection, they must inform the Child Protection Unit of the Department of Human Services. Otherwise the student may be at further risk. |
