National Quality Framework

Definition of Harm
Notes:

 

Harm to a child is:

Any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s

  • physical
  • psychological or
  • emotional wellbeing.

Harm can be caused by:

  • physical abuse
  • psychological abuse
  • emotional abuse
  • neglect, or
  • sexual abuse or exploitation
Information:

 

The points to note here are that harm doesn’t have to be physical – and as we already know there are a lot of emotional and psychological harm caused by child abuse.

Secondly, we must make emphasises on the point that harm can be caused by child abuse and neglect.

This is important to remember. It means that whenever the NQF laws talk about harm they are not just talking about accidental harm – they are talking about child abuse.