Reporting Laws and Requirements - VIC
URGENT:
Matters where the child is in immediate and serious danger, such as a child locked in a hot car, should be phoned direct to the police using 000. If you consider the risk of harm for the child requires immediate attention for any reason then call 000.
NON URGENT:
Reporting to Child Protection Intake Service
During Business Hours report via your local office of Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Contacts
- North Division intake: 1300 664 977
- South Division intake: 1300 655 795
- East Division intake: 1300 360 391
- West Division intake - metropolitan: 1300 664 977
- West Division intake - rural and regional: 1800 075 599
After Hours (5.00pm -9am Monday - Friday, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays) call the Child Protection Emergency Service on 13 12 78 (Victoria only) for the cost of a local call.
Outside of Victoria:
National Relay Service Tel: 1800 555 660
Reporting to The Orange Door
Report directly to the nearest regional office – for a full list of these and phone numbers go to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.
So once you’ve got the information and you’ve formed a belief or a suspicion – how do you go about making the report?
If the situation is urgent then you should call 000 so that the matter is given immediate attention, or (03) 9247 6666 to contact Police for a non urgent response. For all other matters, reports can be made by telephone. If your service has a specific Child Protection report document then you should complete this prior to phoning to ensure you report all information and you have a record of what you reported.
For non urgent matters you have two choices in Victoria now. You can report to Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Child Protection or to The Orange Door.
All office hours reports are phoned through to either Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Child Protection or The Orange Door regional intake offices – and details of these locations and numbers can be obtained from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.
All out of hours reports are phoned through the Crisis Line or to the Police.
Where practicable it is better to make out your report in writing because it can be retained on file with your centre and referred to in the future where necessary eg you or your senior supervisor might leave or be away and it’s important that others are able to refer to previous concerns if they have new concerns or if requested by authorities. It’s also a good record that you made a report in accordance with your legal obligations.
