Mandatory Reporting by professionals (doctors and registered nurses) of resonable suspicions of child abuse and neglect directly to Department of Child Safety
The Public Health Act 2005 makes it mandatory for professionals, defined in the Act as doctors and registered nurses, to immediately notify Department of Child Safety directly of all reasonable suspicions of child abuse and neglect. It is an offence for professionals not to report reasonable suspicions of child abuse and neglect cases directly do Department of Child Safety.
Immediate notice of reasonable suspicions of child abuse and neglect
Section 191 of the Public Health Act 2005 - Mandatory reporting - immediate notice applies if a professional:
Once a doctor or registered nurse reasonably suspects child abuse or neglect they must immediately give notice of the harm or likely harm to the Chief Executive (Department of Child Safety) orally, by facsimile, email or similar communication.
All Department of Child Safety staff are authorised officers who are able to receive reports on behalf of the Chief Executive.
Offences
Under sections 193 and 194 of the Public Health Act 2005, it is an offence for a doctor or registered nurse to fail to report or respond to a request for further information from the Department of Child Safety. The maximum penalty is 50 penalty points ($3750).
How to make a report to the Department of Child Safety
Once you have formed a reasonable suspicion of child abuse and neglect, the following steps are to be followed
