Department of Communities,

Child Safety and Disability Services

Child abuse
What you need to know
Contents
Introduction
The role of the department
What is child abuse?
Why does child abuse happen?
Myths and facts about child abuse
Incidence and impact of child abuse
Indicators of child abuse
espondin! to suspicion or disclosure of child abuse
Speakin! out about child abuse
Common concerns you may have when decidin! whether to report child abuse
eportin! child abuse
The reportin! process
Makin! a report to the department
Confidential reportin!
If you make a report and believe no action has been taken
Information for employees or or!anisations related to children or childcare
Contact numbers
Introduction
Carin! for a child can be fun and rewardin!, but it can also be stressful and is not always
easy" Sometimes children do not !et the care they need and their families may need
help from friends, family and their community"
# child may be harmed in any family or nei!hbourhood" It is not somethin! that people
like to talk about but it can happen to a child who attends your local school or plays in
your local sportin! team" Child abuse is not isolated to particular social !roups or areas"
#ll adults have a responsibility to protect children from harm" The information in this
booklet is desi!ned to help you make informed decisions to help ensure children are
safe"
The booklet provides information about child abuse and its impact on a child$s life" It also
provides advice on what to do if a child tells you they have been harmed or if you
suspect that a child has been harmed"
This information is relevant for all adults who have contact with children"
%r!anisations providin! pro!rams or activities for children can use the information in this
booklet to better inform policies and procedures for handlin! suspicions of abuse or
disclosures by a child about harm"
The role of the department
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is the lead
!overnment a!ency that provides child protection and adoption services in &ueensland"
The department is dedicated to protectin! children who have been harmed or are at risk
of harm, and whose parents are unable to provide ade'uate care or protection for them"
The department administers the Child Protection Act 1999 and the Adoption Act 2009"
The department$s role is to ensure vulnerable children up to the a!e of () years in
&ueensland are safe and protected from harm" When a child$s parents are unable or
unwillin! to protect them, intervention from the department or support from other child
protection a!encies may be needed"
Wherever possible, the department works to keep families to!ether, offerin! counsellin!
and support services to help families help themselves" In situations where children need
to live away from the family home for their own safety, every effort is made to place them
with e*tended family members"
+or #bori!inal and Torres Strait Islander children who may re'uire care out of their family
home, the department is committed to ensurin! they are cared for in a way that respects
their culture, and wherever possible, are placed with e*tended family, community or
Indi!enous carers"
The department is also sensitive to the needs of children and families from culturally and
lin!uistically diverse back!rounds"
What is child abuse?
There are four different types of child abuse that lead to harm,
physical abuse
se*ual abuse
emotional abuse
ne!lect"
Child abuse can be a sin!le incident, or can be a number of different incidents that take
place over time"
-nder the Child Protection Act 1999 it does not matter how much a child is harmed, but
whether a child,
has suffered harm, is sufferin! harm, or is at risk of sufferin! harm
does not have a parent able and willin! to protect them from harm"
.arm is defined as $any detrimental effect of a si!nificant nature on the child$s physical,
psycholo!ical or emotional wellbein!$ /section 0 of the Child Protection Act 1999). +or
harm to be si!nificant, the detrimental effect on the child$s wellbein! must be substantial
or serious, more than transitory and must be demonstrable in the child$s presentation,
functionin! or behaviour"
Physical abuse
1hysical abuse occurs when a child has suffered, or is at risk of sufferin!, non2accidental
physical trauma or in3ury"
1hysical abuse can include,
hittin!
shakin!
throwin!
burnin!
bitin!
poisonin!"
1hysical abuse does not always leave visible marks or in3uries" It is not how bad the
mark or in3ury is, but rather the act itself that causes in3ury or trauma to the child"
Sexual abuse
Se*ual abuse occurs when an adult, stron!er child or adolescent uses their power or
authority to involve a child in se*ual activity"
Se*ual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include,
kissin! or holdin! a child in a se*ual manner
e*posin! a se*ual body part to a child
havin! se*ual relations with a child under (4 years of a!e
talkin! in a se*ually e*plicit way that is not a!e or developmentally appropriate
makin! obscene phone calls or remarks to a child
sendin! obscene mobile te*t messa!es or emails to a child
fondlin! a child in a se*ual manner
persistently intrudin! on a child$s privacy
penetratin! the child$s va!ina or anus by penis, fin!er or any other ob3ect
oral se*
rape
incest
showin! porno!raphic films, ma!a5ines or photo!raphs to a child
havin! a child pose or perform in a se*ual manner
forcin! a child to watch a se*ual act
child prostitution"
Emotional abuse
6motional abuse occurs when a child$s social, emotional, co!nitive or intellectual
development is impaired or threatened" It can include emotional deprivation due to
persistent,
re3ection
hostility
teasin!7bullyin!
yellin!
criticism
e*posure of a child to domestic and family violence"
Domestic and family violence is stron!ly associated with child abuse and ne!lect" There
is an increased risk for a child livin! in a household e*periencin! domestic violence that
their basic childhood needs will not be met, includin! the need for care and protection by
their parents"
Witnessin! violence between parents can have a serious impact on the emotional
wellbein! and development of a child" It can impact on their self2ima!e, their response to
other people and their ability to form healthy relationships as adults" Witnessin!
domestic violence denies a child a sense of security and safety, teaches them that
violence is a solution to problems and may lead to them developin! symptoms of
posttraumatic stress disorder" +or more information on the impact of child abuse please
refer to pa!e (8 of this booklet"
Neglect
9e!lect occurs when a child$s basic necessities of life are not met and their health and
development are affected"
:asic needs include,
food
housin!
health care
ade'uate clothin!
personal hy!iene
hy!ienic livin! conditions
; timely provision of medical treatment
ade'uate supervision"
Why does child abuse happen?
Children are usually abused by someone they know in their own home, most often a
parent or a carer, rather than a stran!er" The causes of child abuse are comple* and
there is no sin!le or simple e*planation"
Most parents want to love and care for their children within a safe home" #buse can
occur when stress, tiredness or a lack of skills, knowled!e or support make the
pressures of carin! for children overwhelmin!" Some of the factors that may contribute
to the likelihood of abuse occurrin! include,
isolation and lack of support < when there is no one, such as e*tended family,
friends, a partner or community support to help with the demands of parentin!
stress < financial pressures, 3ob worries, medical problems or takin! care of a
family member with a disability can increase stress and overwhelm parents
unrealistic e*pectations < a lack of understandin! of a child$s developmental
sta!es and behaviour can impact on a parent$s relationship with their child
intellectual disability < carin! for children and protectin! them, especially babies
and toddlers, takes a lot of time and attention 2 an intellectual disability may lead
to a parent not bein! able to ade'uately care for their baby or child
lack of parentin! skills < parents may not know how to help children learn, !row
and behave in a positive way
mental illness < mental health problems may lead to a person not bein! able to
ade'uately care for their baby or child
dru!, alcohol or !amblin! problems < addiction or substance abuse may limit a
parent$s ability to meet their child$s needs
low self2esteem and self2confidence < sometimes insecure parents doubt their
ability to meet their child$s needs and find it hard to seek help and support
poor childhood e*periences < parents may have previous e*perience of abuse
as a child in their own family"
The presence of one or more of these factors may be an indicator that a child could be
ne!lected or abused" =iven the ri!ht circumstances, skills, knowled!e and resources,
most people who harm a child can positively chan!e their behaviour"
1arents are responsible for the care of their children and need to reco!nise when they
need help before harm occurs" If you feel yourself becomin! stressed and losin! control
of a situation,
stop and think about how you and your child are affected by what is happenin!
do somethin! to chan!e the situation for the better
!et support to make chan!es < seekin! support can take coura!e, but is critical
for you and your child"
Community attitudes are also a contributin! factor to child abuse" There is still some
acceptance in the community of e*cessive physical force for the purposes of discipline
and punishment of children" #ttitudes vary across different communities and those that
can inadvertently support abuse include,
acceptin! the use of violence and force
acceptin! physical punishment of children
acceptin! parental >ownership$ of children and their ri!ht to treat children as they
see fit
ine'uality between men and women
limited community understandin! about the impact of child abuse and ne!lect for
children"
1eople may not report their concerns because they do not consider it any of their
business, may not want to !et involved or do not trust child protection a!encies"
6ffective protection of children relies on community members reportin! their concerns for
a child" This needs to occur in a timely way to prevent concerns becomin! more serious
and the child bein! harmed"
Myths and facts about child abuse
Myth: Children mae up stories about abuse!
+act, Children rarely lie about abuse" Their disclosures of abuse may vary because of
their reluctance and fear to tell what has happened" Children may fear that they or their
parents may be removed from the family, or they may be pressured and threatened into
retractin! any disclosure"
Myth: Sometimes children are to blame for their abuse
+act, Children are never to blame for the abuse they suffer" #dults are responsible for
their own behaviour and no matter how children behave, an adult never has any ri!ht to
harm a child"
Myth: If children do not see domestic "iolence# they are not affected by it!
+act, Children do not need to see violence to know that it is happenin! and to be
affected by it" Children see the aftermath of violence in their home and they see the
impact of violence on a person close to them"
Myth: $eporting suspected child abuse can cause more harm than the abuse
itself!
+act, Sometimes people are concerned about children bein! affected by efforts to
protect them, which may include le!al proceedin!s" Continued abuse will cause more
harm than any action taken to protect the child"
Myth: If child abuse is reported to authorities# they %ill tae the child a%ay from
their family!
+act, emovin! the child from the family home is a last resort if the child is assessed as
bein! at si!nificant risk of on!oin! harm" In the ma3ority of cases, the Department of
Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services will work with the family to address
issues that are causin! the child to be abused or ne!lected" This often involves assistin!
with access to family support or counsellin! services" Children are removed from their
families where there is an immediate serious threat to their safety or when it is
determined that the risk of further serious abuse is too !reat"
Myth: Child abuse only happens in poor families!
+act, Child abuse happens in every type of family" 1eople who harm children can come
from any back!round, race or reli!ion, and have any kind of 3ob" Some are rich, some
are financially disadvanta!ed and some are well2educated"
Myth: &oung children are the only ones "ulnerable to child abuse!
+act, Child abuse can happen to infants, children and adolescents" Sometimes it mi!ht
seem like adolescents should be able to fi!ht back, but it is hard to stand up to an adult
causin! physical, se*ual or emotional harm, especially when it is their own parent" Child
abuse is often an abuse of power and trust" Cruel words and se*ual or physical abuse
can hurt adolescents as much as they can hurt a child"
Myth: Physical discipline is not child abuse!
+act, Discipline is correctin! behaviour and showin! a child how to behave in a more
acceptable way" 1hysical discipline will become abuse if it results in harm or in3ury to a
child" There are many ways to discipline children without usin! e*cessive force"
Myth: Children %ho are abused %ill harm children %hen they are adults!
+act, Many children who are abused do not harm children themselves when they !row
up" With support and counsellin! many children will !o on to live productive lives and
parent their children safely"
Incidence and impact of child abuse
Incidence
Children up to four years of a!e are the most likely to be abused"
Indi!enous children are over-represented in the child protection system with
ne!lect bein! the most common type of harm"
Similar numbers of !irls and boys e*perience abuse"
6motional abuse is the most common type of abuse"
Impact
#ll forms of child abuse can have both short and lon!2term impacts for children, and no
two children react to harm in the same way" Some children show no observable effects
of child abuse, while others show a wide ran!e of si!ns" There may be lon!2term
impacts even when short2term effects are not apparent"
The youn!er the child and the more vulnerable they are, the more serious the
conse'uences are likely to be"
Children may e*perience a ran!e of emotional, psycholo!ical and physical impacts as a
result of bein! harmed, includin!,
permanent physical in3uries or death
low self2esteem
increased fear, !uilt and self blame
distrust of adults
depression
suicidal thou!hts and self2harmin!
an*iety disorders
attachment disorders
post2traumatic stress disorder
learnin! disorders, includin! poor lan!ua!e and co!nitive development
a!!ressive behaviour and other behavioural problems
developmental delay, eatin! disorders and physical ailments
delin'uency and criminal behaviour, includin! violence towards others
dru! and alcohol abuse and hi!h2risk se*ual behaviour
difficulty formin! relationships with other adults
behaviour that leads to them bein! sin!led out, bullied and victimised"
The most serious effects are likely to occur when no one takes action to help stop the
abuse and protect the child"
With early identification and appropriate response and support, children can recover
from e*periences of abuse and ne!lect" # child$s support network, and bonds with those
who believe and protect them, will help them to cope" Support and counsellin! can also
help them identify protective behaviours and establish positive relationships for the
future"
Without effective support, on!oin! child abuse can have lon!2term effects on individuals
and communities" esearch links the e*perience of childhood abuse with psycholo!ical
problems, an increased risk of suicide and dru! and alcohol misuse"
Indicators of child abuse
Children who have been, or may be, e*periencin! abuse may show behavioural,
emotional or physical si!ns of harm"
Some children show no indications of harm, while others may show many" # child$s
behaviour is likely to be affected if they have e*perienced harm however it is important
to find out specifically what may be causin! any ne!ative behaviour"
'eneral indicators of child abuse can include:
showin! wariness and distrust of adults
rockin!, suckin! or bitin! e*cessively
bedwettin! or soilin!
demandin! or a!!ressive behaviour
sleepin! difficulties, often bein! tired and fallin! asleep
low self2esteem
difficulty relatin! to adults and peers
abusin! alcohol or dru!s
bein! seemin!ly accident prone
feelin! suicidal or attemptin! suicide
havin! difficulty concentratin!
bein! withdrawn or overly obedient
bein! reluctant to !o home
creatin! stories, poems or artwork about abuse"
Indicators of physical abuse include:
broken bones or une*plained bruisin!, burns or welts in different sta!es of
healin!
a child bein! unable to e*plain an in3ury, or e*planations that are inconsistent,
va!ue or unbelievable
unusual or une*plained internal in3uries
havin! a family history of violence
a marked delay between in3ury and seekin! medical assistance
parents showin! little concern about the wellbein! of their child or the treatment
and care of an in3ury
repeated visits to health services with in3uries, poisonin! or minor complaints
/this could also be an indicator of +abricated or Induced Illness /+ll, ori!inally and
more commonly known as Munchausen Syndrome by 1ro*y /MSb1? which is a
mental illness where a care!iver, usually a parent, !uardian or spouse, fei!ns or
induces an illness in another person, usually a vulnerable child or adult, to !ain
power and control over the victim as well as attention or sympathy from others?
a child bein! unusually fri!htened of a parent or carer
arms and le!s covered by inappropriate clothin! in warm weather /to hide
bruises, cuts or marks?
a child avoidin! physical contact
becomin! scared when other children cry or shout
bein! e*cessively friendly to stran!ers
bein! passive and compliant"
Indicators of sexual abuse include:
displayin! !reater se*ual knowled!e than normally e*pected for the child$s a!e or
developmental level
hints about se*ual activity throu!h actions or comments that are inappropriate to
the child$s a!e or developmental level
inappropriate se*ual play and behaviour with themselves, other children or dolls
and toys
e*cessive masturbation or masturbation in public after kinder!arten a!e
persistent bedwettin!, urinatin! or soilin! in clothes
re!ressive behaviour, such as baby talk and thumb2suckin!
persistent se*ual themes in their drawin!s or play time
fear or avoidance of any aspect of se*uality
se*ually su!!estive behaviour with adults or older children
poor social boundaries
startin! fires or a fascination with fire
destroyin! property
hurtin! or mutilatin! animals
promiscuity or prostitution
refusin! to undress for activities or often wearin! layers of clothin!
bruisin!, bleedin!, swellin!, tears or cuts on !enitals or anus
unusual va!inal odour or dischar!e
torn, stained or bloody clothin!, especially underwear
pain or itchin! in the !enital area, difficulty !oin! to the toilet, walkin! or sittin!
a se*ually transmitted disease, especially in a preadolescent child
pre!nancy
a child implies that they are re'uired to keep secrets
fear of bein! alone with a particular person"
Indicators of emotional abuse include:
e*tremes in behaviour from overly a!!ressive to overly passive
delayed physical, emotional or intellectual development
compulsive lyin! or stealin!
hi!h levels of an*iety
lack of trust in people
feelin!s of worthlessness about life and themselves
eatin! hun!rily or hardly at all
uncharacteristic attention2seekin!
self2harmin!
a parent or carer constantly criticisin!, threatenin!, belittlin!, insultin! or re3ectin!
the child"
Indicators of neglect include:
malnutrition, be!!in!, stealin! or hoardin! food
poor hy!iene, matted hair, dirty skin or body odour
unattended physical or medical problems
comments from a child that no one is home to provide care
bein! constantly tired
fre'uent lateness or absence from school
inappropriate clothin!, especially inade'uate clothin! in winter
fre'uent illness, infections or sores
bein! left unsupervised for lon! periods
alcohol or dru! abuse bein! present in the household"
$esponding to suspicion or disclosure of child abuse
Child abuse, in any form, by anyone, is unacceptable" It is not unusual for a child to deny
that somethin! is wron! because it is a natural way of copin! with somethin! that can be
overwhelmin!"
If you suspect a child has been, or is bein!, abused,
remain alert to any warnin! si!ns or indicators that a child is e*periencin! or is at
risk of abuse
observe the child and make written notes as soon as you be!in to have concerns
< pay attention to chan!es in their behaviour, ideas, feelin!s and the words they
use
have !entle, non23ud!emental discussions with the child < e*pressin! your
concern that a child looks sad or unwell can result in disclosures
do not pressure a child to respond and do not ask 'uestions that put words into a
child$s mouth
assure the child that they can come and talk to you when they need to, and listen
to them when they do
remember that child abuse does not !o away and usually becomes more serious
over time
seek e*pert advice by contactin! the department
remember that not actin! on a suspicion or disclosure may result in further harm
to the child"
If a child tells you they are bein! abused,
remain calm
do not e*press shock, panic or disbelief < the child is countin! on you to provide
calm reassurance that they are bein! listened to and heard
find a private place to talk
thank the child for comin! to talk to you about it and reco!nise their bravery for
talkin! about somethin! that may be difficult or embarrassin!
be supportive, tell them that you believe what they are sayin! and thank them for
helpin! you to understand
be a listener not an investi!ator < encoura!e children to talk in their own words
and ask 3ust enou!h 'uestions to act protectively, for e*ample, @can you tell me
more about that?A
do not conduct any form of interview with the child
stress that what has happened is not their fault, for e*ample, @you are not in
troubleA and @if I look or sound upset it is because I want you to feel safeA
be aware of your tone of voice and help the child make sense of what you are
feelin!, for e*ample, @I am feelin! concerned for you,A or @what we can do ri!ht
now is talk about ways to help you feel safeA
act proactively, for e*ample, @I know some people do wron! thin!s and it is up to
!rown2ups to protect children ,A or @every child has a ri!ht to be safe, there are
laws to help protect childrenA
reassure the child that they have done the ri!ht thin! by tellin! you, and that they
are not in trouble
do not make promises you cannot keep, such as promisin! you will not tell
anyone < you need to tell someone in order to !et help for the child
as a concerned community member you can contact the Department of
Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and ask how best to respond
to the situation
do not contact the person responsible for the abuse, re!ardless of who that
person is < leave this to the department or the police
keep information confidential < only those who absolutely need to know should
be told at this point"
If a parent tells you that a child has been abused, but the person responsible no lon!er
has contact with the child, you should still contact the Department of Communities, Child
Safety and Disability Services to help protect other children" Bou could also provide
information to the parent about where they can !et help and advice"
Speaing out about child abuse
Confrontin! child abuse and ne!lect can be very difficult" %ften people find it easier to
down play their concerns or avoid thinkin! about the possibility that a child may have
been harmed or be at risk of harm" This can leave a child unprotected and allow the
abuse or ne!lect to continue"
Why should you brea the silence about child abuse?
6very child has the ri!ht to be protected by carin! adults"
#buse can affect a child for the rest of their life"
Think about how you may feel if you do not act to protect the child"
# child is never to blame for abuse"
If you suspect that a child has been abused it is better to report it, even if you are
not sure, rather than do nothin!"
Trust your !ut feelin!, rely on intuition and speak out if you think someone is
abusin! a child"
If the person responsible is a child or an adolescent, speakin! up may enable
them to !et help to address their behaviour"
If you do report abuse, the child will always remember that someone had the
coura!e to stand up for them and do somethin! to protect them"
If a child has been abused, it is important for the family to reach out for help and
not isolate itself"
There are many or!anisations in the community that can provide services to help
children and families" Take some time to find out what is available in your community"
Communities need to do somethin! about child abuse < stand to!ether, be stron! and
break the silence" Stop protectin! the person responsible for the harm and speak out
about child abuse"
Common concerns you may ha"e %hen deciding %hether to
report child abuse
The person responsible could be a relati"e or a %ell(no%n person in the
community!
If the person is related to you, it may put you in a difficult position" It is very important
that you talk to someone you can trust or someone outside of the family" It is also
important to access support services for yourself, to assist you throu!h this difficult
situation"
&ou might feel that the problem could best be dealt %ith inside the family net%or
or by the community!
Sometimes the community$s response is to move the person responsible away from
where they live" The problem will not !o away as they may !o to another community and
continue to harm children" 1eople who harm children need to !et help so they can stop
this behaviour"
&ou do not %ant to mae the situation %orse for the family!
This is a realistic concern" It may seem that reportin! your concerns will make thin!s
worse for the family, or!anisation, community or the child" .owever, in the lon! run, you
could make the situation a whole lot better for a child who may not have anyone else to
protect them, or may be too scared and ashamed to report any harm"
The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services works with
families to support them and help them care for their children" In many cases the child
can remain livin! at home as lon! as family members can keep them safe"
&ou may be concerned that the child %ill be harmed more if they are remo"ed from
their family!
The department must work in the best interests of the child" Wherever possible, they will
work with and support the family to help them nurture and protect the child" In the
ma3ority of cases, children are able to remain at home" With the provision of support, the
family may be able to keep their child safe and ensure their needs are met"
There may be times when a child is placed away from home if it is not safe for them to
remain in the family home" The department is committed to ensurin! that children are
placed in carin! and supportive environments"
&ou might be %orried about a child but not con"inced that they are being harmed!
It is not necessary for you to prove that the child has been harmed" The department is
responsible for investi!atin! and assessin! the risk of harm to the child"
&ou might be concerned that if you mae a report you %ill ha"e to gi"e e"idence in
court!
The ma3ority of reports made are resolved without the need for an application for a child
protection order in the Childrens Court" If the case does !o to court you may be asked to
!ive evidence" The department will support and help you throu!h any court process"
&ou might be %orried about a child from a cultural bacground you are not
familiar %ith# and be confused about the role of parenting and discipline %ithin
that culture!
Child abuse and ne!lect is not appropriate or condoned in any culture" Cultural
sensitivity is an important consideration for the department when assessin! reports of
harm, but harm to a child is never 3ustified"
If an #bori!inal or Torres Strait Islander child is involved, the department consults with a
eco!nised 6ntity, which is an #bori!inal or Torres Strait Islander individual or
or!anisation, reco!nised within their community, that provides cultural and family advice
in Indi!enous child protection matters"
&ou might no% the person %ho is responsible for the harm and do not %ant to
mae it %orse for their family!
This places you in a difficult situation, but think about what is more important <
protectin! a child or protectin! the person responsible? The child$s ri!ht to be safe and
protected is always the most important" The person responsible may have contact with
the police" This is not your fault, as it is a result of their own actions"
It may cause trouble bet%een your family and the family of the person
responsible! It may also cause a lot of tension and stress %ithin your o%n family if
the person responsible is a close family member!
It is sad that reportin! child abuse sometimes causes families to fi!ht and result in a rift
that may never be mended" .owever there may also be family members who will admire
you for havin! the coura!e to stand up for what you believe in, and for havin! done
somethin! to protect a child from on!oin! harm"
&ou might be afraid that you could be the "ictim of "erbal or physical abuse if you
tell someone about a child that is being harmed!
This is a real concern for people who live in close2knit communities" Section ()4 of the
Child Protection Act 1999 ensures that a notifier$s details will not be disclosed by the
department or the &ueensland 1olice Service, e*cept in specific circumstances, for
e*ample when ordered to do so by a court or tribunal"
In small communities, people can sometimes !uess who has spoken to the department"
If you are worried about this, find a support network of stron! minded people in your
community whose beliefs are similar to your own and who a!ree it is important to protect
children" It is very important for communities to put support mechanisms in place for
those people who are brave enou!h to report abuse"
&ou simply may not %ant to get in"ol"ed or you may thin it is none of your
business!
1rotectin! children from harm is everybody$s business" Children cannot protect
themselves and it is the responsibility of !overnment and communities to work to!ether
to nurture and protect children"
&ou may feel that you do not no% enough about the reporting or in"estigation
process or the options a"ailable!
Speak to officers from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services about the policies and procedures for respondin! to reports of child abuse"
Contact the department$s re!ional intake service and ask them to send information about
the process to you"
$eporting child abuse
If you suspect a child has e*perienced harm, or is at risk of e*periencin! harm, there are
a number of a!encies that can provide support and advice"
)epartment of Communities# Child Safety and )isability Ser"ices
In the first instance you should contact the Department of Communities, Child Safety
and Disability Services, which is responsible for the administration and implementation
of the Child Protection Act 1999 /the #ct?"
The purpose of the #ct is to provide for the protection of children" This involves
respondin! to alle!ations of harm, providin! services to stren!then and support families
to reduce the incidence of harm and providin! services to families to protect their
children if harm or risk of harm has been identified"
To contact the department call a re!ional intake service on *+ ,'-. /*+ 01 234" Bou
can also visit %%%!communities!5ld!go"!au6childsafety for further information"
Child Safety 7fter(8ours Ser"ice Centre
If it is an emer!ency and you wish to speak to somebody outside of normal workin!
hours, you can contact Child Safety #fter2.ours Service Centre" This is a service
provided by the department and is available after business hours and on weekends" Call
+9+: ;;;; or freecall *3<< *00 *+:"
,ueensland Police Ser"ice
The &ueensland 1olice Service investi!ates alle!ations of harm to children when a
criminal offence may have been committed"
The &ueensland 1olice Service has a number of dedicated Child 1rotection and
Investi!ation -nits across the state to investi!ate criminal matters relatin! to child
abuse" If you believe a criminal offence a!ainst a child may have occurred, contact your
local police station"
There is a full list of contact details for or!anisations that can provide advice and support
concernin! child abuse at the back of this booklet"
The reporting process
=overnment a!encies that can investi!ate harm to a child are the Department of
Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and the &ueensland 1olice Service"
When you contact the department$s re!ional intake service or the &ueensland 1olice
Service about your concerns, the officer takin! the call will !ather as much information
as possible from you and decide the best way to respond"
The department will assess the information !iven by you and decide whether an
investi!ation and assessment will occur to determine whether the child has been harmed
or is at risk of harm in the future"
The &ueensland 1olice Service will decide whether a criminal offence has occurred"
Initial information re'uired by the department or the &ueensland 1olice Service includes,
the name, a!e and address of the child
reasons why you suspect the child may have e*perienced harm, or is at risk of
e*periencin! harm
any concerns you may have for the child$s immediate safety in their home"
It is vital that you call, even if you do not have all the details" Do not 'uestion the child
too much as this may upset them and make it harder for the authorities to investi!ate
what has really happened"
When you contact the department, the information !athered will be recorded on the
information system" This system contains records of all reports of harm received by the
department" When makin! a report you may remain anonymous" .owever, it is
preferable that you provide contact details so that officers are able to contact you if
re'uired"
6ven if you think the information you have is trivial, your call may provide a vital piece of
information that enables the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services or the &ueensland 1olice Service to act"
If a decision is made that the department$s intervention is not re'uired, a child safety
officer may provide you with information or advice, or refer the family to another service"
#ll details received from and !iven to you will be noted, but a child safety officer may not
necessarily contact or visit the family"
If the assessment determines that the child has been harmed or is at risk of si!nificant
harm, a child safety officer will further assess the information received by visitin! the
child and their family, and if necessary, makin! contact with other parties such as the
school, doctor or other a!encies involved with the family" When the concerns relate to
se*ual abuse, a police officer will also be involved in the investi!ation, as a criminal
offence may have occurred"
+ollowin! a full assessment of the child$s protective needs, a decision will be made
about whether it is possible to address the child$s needs by supportin! and assistin! the
family" In the ma3ority of cases, children are able to remain at home, with support
provided to the family by the department and community a!encies to ensure they are
safe and their needs are met" Sometimes short2term care for the child is arran!ed until
their safety needs can be met within the family"
Maing a report to the )epartment of Communities# Child Safety
and )isability Ser"ices
If a child tells you that they have been harmed, you witness a child bein! harmed or somebody
else passes on this information, or you believe that a child may be at risk of harm, remember to,
listen carefully
remain calm
record details
do not blame the child
believe and support the child
thank the child for tellin! you
do not make promises you cannot keep
only tell those who need to know"
Contact the department$s re!ional intake service on *+ ,'-. /*+ 01 234"
The department will !ather information includin! the child$s details and situation"
If a criminal offence has occurred, the department will work with the police durin! the
investi!ation"
The role of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is to assess the
report of harm to the child"
If the child is an #bori!inal or Torres Strait Islander child, the local eco!nised 6ntity will be
involved" # eco!nised 6ntity is an #bori!inal or Torres Strait Islander individual or or!anisation,
reco!nised in their community as a provider of cultural and family advice in Indi!enous child
protection matters"
The department will assess whether the information identifies that the child may be in need of
protection"
If a crime has been committed the police may lay char!es"
If harm has been identified, the department will provide an appropriate response, which may
include a referral to a Suspected Child #buse and 9e!lect /SC#9? team"
The department will consider a ran!e of appropriate options under the Child Protection Act 1999
to ensure the child$s ri!ht to protection is e*ercised"
The Suspected Child 7buse and Neglect /SC7N4 team
The purpose of the Suspected Child #buse and 9e!lect /SC#9? team system is to enable a
coordinated multi2a!ency response to children where the department$s assessment or
intervention is re'uired to assess and meet their need for protection"
6ach SC#9 team includes e*perienced child protection professionals from,
the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
the &ueensland 1olice Service
&ueensland .ealth
the Department of 6ducation, Trainin! and 6mployment
a eco!nised 6ntity, when the discussion is about an #bori!inal or Torres Strait Islander
child"
SC#9 teams plan and coordinate actions to assess and respond to the protection needs of
children who have been harmed or are at risk of harm # SC#9 team may recommend that team
members or other a!encies and services
Confidential reporting
When a report is made to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services or the &ueensland 1olice Service, the caller$s identity and the information
provided will be kept confidential" The caller$s identity is strictly protected, with specific
sections within the Child Protection Act 1999 /the #ct? to ensure confidentiality is
maintained" These are,
Section 99 = Protection from liability for notification of# or information gi"en
about# alleged harm or ris of harm
Section CC of the #ct provides protection from any le!al liability for people who report
their concerns about a child to either the department or the &ueensland 1olice Service"
# person makin! a report cannot be considered to have breached any code of
professional conduct or ethics" This section also covers situations where information
about a child is provided to the department or the &ueensland 1olice Service in the
course of an investi!ation" %fficers may talk to relevant people or a!encies who can
provide further information, such as the family doctor or school teacher"
Section *32 = Confidentiality of notifiers of harm or ris of harm
# >notifier$ is a person who contacts Department of Communities, Child Safety and
Disability Services or the &ueensland 1olice Service to report their concerns about a
particular child" This section ensures that confidentiality of notifier information is
maintained"
This section prohibits officers from disclosin! the notifier$s identity e*cept in the course
of performin! their duties under the #ct or if ordered to do so by a court or tribunal"
The child$s family will not be told who provided the information upon which the officers
are actin!" emember,
&ueensland law protects the source of the report
the details of your report are kept strictly confidential
only discuss your concerns with those who absolutely need to know"
Bou can speak with an officer from Department of Communities, Child Safety and
Disability Services if you have any concerns"
If you mae a report and belie"e no action has been taen
If you have concerns about a child$s situation after a report has been made,
contact the department$s re!ional intake service you had initial contact with to
discuss your concerns further
if you are not satisfied with the outcome of this contact, ask to speak with the
re!ional intake service team leader
if you are still not satisfied, you can ask to talk to the mana!er of the re!ional
intake service, make contact with the re!ional office or lod!e a formal complaint
with the department"
While every attempt will be made to resolve any complaints that arise, if you are still not
satisfied, the department can provide you with contact details for e*ternal a!encies to
proceed further with your complaint"
Information for employees of organisations related to children or
child care
6very or!anisation that cares for children should have a policy on how best to respond
to suspicions or disclosures of child abuse" If you are workin! with children you must
obtain a blue card" +or information on how to apply for a blue card visit the Commission
for Children and Boun! 1eople and Child =uardian website %%%!ccypcg!5ld!go"!au
The or!anisation$s policy should be directly, e*plicitly and repeatedly communicated to
staff and volunteers to ensure they are fully aware of, and understand how to mana!e
the process of reportin! child abuse" Communicatin! an or!anisation$s commitment to
the policy sends a stron! messa!e to everyone involved in the or!anisation that harm to
children will not be tolerated"
If you work in an or!anisation and a child tells you they are bein! harmed, you should
immediately inform your mana!er, mana!ement committee, or the licensee of the
service to develop a plan of action"
If the person responsible for the harm is a staff member, follow your or!anisation$s policy
for this situation for referral to the appropriate child protection a!encies" #n action plan
should be developed by mana!ement"
Bou can also notify the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
or the &ueensland 1olice Service if you suspect that a child is bein! harmed"
#s a staff member you do not need to prove that harm has actually occurred, your
responsibility is to notify your suspicion and the reasons for it"
Bou have reasonable !rounds to take action if,
a child tells you that they have been harmed
someone tells you /for e*ample, a siblin!, relative, friend or nei!hbour? that a
child has e*perienced or is bein! harmed
a child tells you that they know someone who has been harmed
you have suspicions because of the child$s physical or behavioural indicators"
There are some people in &ueensland who have a le!al obli!ation to report suspicions
of child abuse to the appropriate authorities" These include,
medical practitioners and re!istered nurses under the Health Act 1937
the Commissioner for Children and Boun! 1eople and Child =uardian under the
Commission for Children and Youn People and Child !uardian Act 2000
staff members of state or non2state schools under the "ducation #!eneral
Pro$isions) Act 200%
+amily Court personnel, includin! court counsellors, mediators, welfare officers
and re!istrars, under the &amil' (a) Act 197*
persons employed in a licensed care service, under the Child Protection Act
1999
detention centre employees under the +u$enile +ustice Act 1992
licensees of child care services, under the Child Care Act 2002.
There are many other or!anisations, both !overnment and non2!overnment, that have
their own procedures that re'uire their employees to report suspicions of child abuse"
If you are informed or have suspicions that a child is bein! abused, an appropriate
response should include the followin!,
#ccess a copy of your or!anisation$s internal policy and be knowled!eable about
how to respond appropriately"
:e alert to any warnin! si!ns that may indicate the child is bein! abused"
%bserve the child and make written notes as soon as you be!in to have
concerns"
1ay attention to body cues, such as chan!es in the child$s behaviour, ideas,
feelin!s, and the words they use"
.ave !entle, non23ud!mental discussions with the child" 6*pressin! your concern
that a child looks sad or unwell can result in disclosures" Do not pressure the
child to respond and do not ask leadin! 'uestions that put words into a child$s
mouth" Try to use lan!ua!e that is appropriate for their a!e"
#ssure the child they can come and talk to you when they need to" :e available
and listen carefully to a child when they do"
1romptly advise the person nominated by your or!anisation of your concerns"
eport the matter to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services or the &ueensland 1olice Service"
If a child tells you they are bein! abused you should,
remain calm < do not e*press shock, panic or disbelief
be a listener not an investi!ator < encoura!e the child to talk usin! their
lan!ua!e" #sk 3ust enou!h 'uestions to act protectively, such as, @Can you tell
me more about that?A or 3ust nod or say, @yesA to acknowled!e you are hearin!
the child" Do not conduct any form of interview with the child
reassure the child that they have done the ri!ht thin! by tellin! you
stress what has happened is not their fault, @you are not in troubleA or @if I look or
sound upset it is because I want you to feel safeA
do not make any promises to the child that you cannot keep, such as not tellin!
anyone else" 6*plain that you will have to speak to other people in order to help
make written notes as soon as possible followin! the disclosure" ecord the
words that the child used and the behaviours displayed to indicate their distress
promptly advise the person nominated by your or!anisation of the disclosure
report the matter to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services or the &ueensland 1olice Service"
Important points to remember,
Deep information confidential" %nly those who absolutely need to know should be
told"
Do not notify the individual a!ainst whom an alle!ation or complaint has been
made, re!ardless of who this person is" Eeave this to the authorities"
Do not contact the parent until you have discussed the matter with the
department or the &ueensland 1olice Service"
Contact numbers
)epartment of Communities# Child Safety and
)isability Ser"ices
If you have a reason to suspect a child in &ueensland is e*periencin! harm, or is at risk
of e*periencin! harm, you need to contact the department"
Durin! normal business hours contact the department$s re!ional intake service on *+
,'-. /*+ 01 234" The re!ional intake service has professionally trained child protection
staff who are skilled in dealin! with information about harm or risk of harm to children"
#fter business hours and on weekends, contact the Child Safety #fter .ours Service
Centre on +9+: ;;;; or freecall *3<< *00 *+:"
,ueensland Police Ser"ice
The &ueensland 1olice Service investi!ates alle!ations of harm to children when a
criminal offence has been alle!ed"
If you believe a child is in immediate dan!er or in a life2threatenin! situation, contact the
&ueensland 1olice Service immediately by diallin! <<<"
The &ueensland 1olice Service has a number of Child 1rotection and Investi!ation -nits
across &ueensland" To locate the unit nearest to you, contact the 1olice District
Communication Centre /see over?!
Police )istrict Communication Centres /91 hours4
:eenlei!h 88FG )HHH
:risbane 884( 8FHH
:roadbeach GG)( C)HH
:undaber! F(G8 0(((
Cairns FH8H IHHH
Charleville F4GH GGHH
=ladstone F0I( 8CCC
=ympie GF)H ((((
Innisfail FH4( GIII
Ipswich 8)(I (G)G
Eon!reach F4GC GCHH
Mackay F04) 8FFF
Mareeba FH8H 88HH
Maroochydore GFIG CFFF
Maryborou!h F(C8 )(((
Mount Isa FIFF ((((
edcliffe 8C)8 HGGG
ockhampton F08C 8GHH
oma F4CC 0888
Toowoomba F48( 4888
Townsville FIG0 0III
-ther contacts
+or additional support, families can contact one of the confidential or!anisations below
that provide a variety of services, counsellin! and referrals"
Crimestoppers ()HH 888 HHH
TT& for the speech or hearing impaired /CF2hour relay call numbers? (88 4II /voice
calls? or (8HH GGG ICI /speak and listen?
Parentline (8HH 8H( 8HH /)am J (Hpm?
>ids 8elp ?ine ()HH GG ()HH /CF hours?
Community Child 8ealth Ser"ice (8 .6#ET. or (8 F8 CG )F
Community Care Information Ser"ice (8 &=%K or (8 IF 4)
Women@s Infolin ()HH (II GII
Men@s Info ?ine ()HH 4HH 484
State%ide Sexual 7ssault Ser"ice ()HH H(H (CH
+or more information you can also visit the department$s website
%%%!communities!5ld!go"!au6childsafety
Many local community !roups are also en!a!ed in activities to promote a stron! and
supportive community" +ind out which !roups operate in your local area and support
their activities to promote child protection"
)epartment of Communities# Child Safety and )isability Ser"ices
*+ ,'-. /*+ 01 234 %%%!communities!5ld!go"!au6childsafety