FOUR CRITICAL ACTIONS FOR SCHOOLS YOU MUST TAKE ACTION As a school staff member, you play a critical

YOU MUST TAKE ACTION As a school staff member, you play a critical role in protecting children in your care.

Responding to Incidents, Disclosures

You must act, by following the Four You must act if you form a suspicion/ It is strongly recommended that you
Critical Actions, as soon as you witness reasonable belief, even if you are unsure use the Responding to Suspected
an incident, receive a disclosure or and have not directly observed child Child Abuse template to keep clear
form a reasonable belief * that a child abuse (e.g. if the victim or another

and Suspicions of Child Abuse

and comprehensive notes, even if
has, or is at risk of being abused. person tells you about the abuse).
you make a decision not to report.
* A reasonable belief is a deliberately low threshold. This enables authorities to investigate and take action.

1 2 3 4
RESPONDING TO CONTACTING PROVIDING
REPORTING TO AUTHORITIES / REFERRING TO SERVICES ONGOING
AN EMERGENCY PARENTS/CARERS
SUPPORT

If there is no risk of immediate As soon as immediate health and safety concerns are addressed you must report For suspected student sexual assault, Your principal must consult with DHHS Your school must provide support
harm go to Action 2. all incidents, suspicions and disclosures of child abuse as soon as possible. please follow the Four Critical Child Protection or Victoria Police to for children impacted by abuse. This
Failure to report physical and sexual child abuse may amount to a criminal offence. Actions: Student Sexual Offending. determine what information can be shared should include the development of
with parents/carers. They may advise: a Student Support Plan in consultation
Q: Where does the source of suspected abuse come from? with wellbeing professionals.
not to contact the parents/carer
If a child is at immediate risk of harm This is an essential part of your
(e.g. in circumstances where the
you must ensure their safety by: duty of care requirements.
WITHIN THE SCHOOL WITHIN THE FAMILY OTHER CONCERNS parents are alleged to have engaged
separating alleged victims in the abuse, or the child is a mature Strategies may include development of
OR COMMUNITY a safety plan, direct support and referral
and others involved minor and does not wish for their
VICTORIA POLICE If you believe that a child is not subject to wellbeing professionals and support.
administering first aid parent/carer to be contacted)
You must report all instances of DHHS CHILD PROTECTION to abuse, but you still hold significant
calling 000 for urgent medical and/ suspected child abuse involving a You must report to DHHS Child concerns for their wellbeing you must to contact the parents/carers and
or police assistance to respond to school staff member, contractor, Protection if a child is considered to be: still act. This may include making a provide agreed information (this
immediate health or safety concerns volunteer or visitor to Victoria Police. referral or seeking advice from: must be done as soon as possible, You must follow the Four Critical Actions
identifying a contact person at the in need of protection from child abuse preferably on the same day of the every time you become aware of a further
Child FIRST/The Orange Door incident, disclosure or suspicion)
school for future liaison with Police. You must also report internally to: at risk of being harmed (or has been instance or risk of abuse. This includes
(in circumstances where the family
harmed) and the harm has had, or is how to communicate with reporting new information to authorities.
Where necessary you may also need to are open to receiving support)
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS likely to have, a serious impact on the all relevant parties with
maintain the integrity of the potential DHHS Child Protection
School principal and/or leadership team child’s safety, stability or development. consideration for their safety.
crime scene and preserve evidence. Victoria Police.
Employee Conduct Branch
VICTORIA POLICE
DET Incident Support and You must also report all instances of
Operations Centre. suspected sexual abuse (including
grooming) to Victoria Police.
CONTACT
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
School principal and/or leadership team
You must also report internally to: DHHS CHILD PROTECTION VICTORIA POLICE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Diocesan education office. VICTORIA
AREA 000 or your local police station
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS School principal and/or leadership team North Division 1300 664 977 (03) 9825 7200
School principal and/or
DET Incident Support and Operations
South Division 1300 655 795 DET INCIDENT SUPPORT THE LOOKOUT
school chairperson East Division 1300 360 391 AND OPERATIONS CENTRE The LOOKOUT has a service directory,
Commission for Children and Centre. West Division (Rural) 1800 075 599 1800 126 126
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS information, and evidence based
Young People on 1300 782 978. West Division (Metro) 1300 664 977
guidance to help you respond to family
School
 principal and/or leadership team INCIDENT MANAGEMENT violence: http://www.lookout.org.au.
All allegations of ‘reportable Diocesan education office. AFTER HOURS AND SUPPORT UNIT
conduct’ must be reported After hours, weekends, public Family violence victims/survivors
1800 126 126
as soon as possible to: INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS holidays 13 12 78. can be referred to 1800 Respect
for counselling, information and a
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS School principal and/or chairperson. EMPLOYEE CONDUCT
CHILD FIRST referral service: 1800 737 732.
Employee Conduct Branch BRANCH
https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/
(03) 9637 2595
referral-and-support-teams
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Diocesan education office ORANGE DOOR DIOCESAN OFFICE
https://www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence/ Melbourne (03) 9267 0228
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS the-orange-door.html Ballarat (03) 5337 7135
Commission for Children and Sale (03) 5622 6600
Young People on 1300 782 978. Sandhurst (03) 5443 2377