Mandatory reporters: What to report and when

You must make a report to Communities and Justice (DCJ) when you have current concerns about the safety, welfare and wellbeing of a child for any of the following reasons:

• the basic physical or psychological needs of the child or young person are not being met (neglect)
• the parents or caregivers have not arranged necessary medical care for the child or young person (unwilling or unable to do so)
• the parents or caregivers have not arranged for the child or young person to receive an education in accordance with the Education Act 1990 (unwilling or unable to do so)
• risk of physical or sexual abuse or ill-treatment
• parent or caregiver’s behaviour towards the child causes or risks serious psychological harm (emotional abuse)
• incidents of domestic violence and as a consequence a child or young person is at risk of serious physical or psychological harm (domestic or family violence)
• the child was the subject in a prenatal report and the birth mother did not engage successfully with support services.

It’s mandatory to make a report if the child is 0 to 15 years and at risk of significant harm.
It’s not mandatory to make a report if it is an unborn child, or a young person aged 16 to 17.

If you want to report a child and family you do not have a professional relationship with, do so as an individual and not as a mandatory reporter.

It may help you to read the following:

• What is child abuse and neglect?
• Signs of abuse
• If a child tells you about abuse
• If a parent tells you about abuse