Reporting Laws and Requirements - VIC

When do You Need to Report?
Notes:

 

You should report as soon as practicable on the day you form the suspicion or belief.

Consider the following when deciding on the urgency of your report:

Timing 

  • will the perpetrator have access after pick up?
  • is alleged harm serious e.g sexual abuse or serious physical abuse?

Injury

  • is it severe?
  • is medical treatment required?
  • is it located on head or genitals?

Child

  • is the child young or an infant?
  • do they have special needs?
  • have they disclosed abuse causing significant harm e.g sexual abuse or serious physical abuse?

History

  • history of previous abuse to child or siblings?
  • history of family violence?
  • current or recent episode of violence or abuse?
Information:

 

Now that you’ve decided to report to authorities, when should you do that? Generally you should report as soon as practicable on the same day that you form the suspicion or belief.

There are some occasions when a more urgent response to reporting is required. If the nature of the injury to the child is so severe as to require emergency medical treatment, or if you suspect the perpetrator is a parent or caregiver, and you believe that the child is at risk of abuse if they are permitted to go home with this person at the end of the day, then you need to make the report as soon as possible, and in some cases you should dial 000 for emergency assistance. An example of this would be if you believe a baby in your care has been shaken then you should dial 000 for immediate assistance – or if a child tells you her uncle sexually abuses her every time he drives her home from day care – and he’s due to pick her up in half an hour – then again you should contact the police immediately.

You can contact your local police station to make this report, or dial 000 if it’s urgent.