Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hi,
I am working on my Work Environment Cluster and I am not sure if I have supplied a correct answer or enough information.

Question..
Would you make a report to child protection services? Explain why or why not? Use your state/territory child protection process to determine your answers.
(I'm in New South)
My Answer..
"As a mandatory reporter, it is a legal requirement that I make a report.
There are physical indicators of harm to Callen and there are also psychological indicators of harm to both Callen and his sister Kaya.

(Added backing for why I am reporting)
Section 27(1) of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 states mandatory reporting applies to:
(a) a person who, in the course of his or her professional work or other paid employment delivers health care, welfare, education, children’s services, residential services, or law enforcement, wholly or partly to children, and
(b) a person who holds a management position in an organisation the duties of which include direct responsibility for, or direct supervision of, the provision of health care, welfare, education, children's services, residential services, or law enforcement, wholly or partly, to children.

Section 27(2) states if:
(a) a person who is mandated has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is at risk of harm, and those grounds arise during the course of or from the person's work,
(b) those grounds arise during the course of or from the grounds to suspect that a child is at risk of harm, and person's work,
the person must, as soon as practicable, report to the Director-General the name, or a description, of the child and the grounds for suspecting that the child is at risk of harm. Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units."
https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/acts/1998-157.pdf

I would really appreciate some feedback!

I think you're on the right track with your response however you may need to add more information! For example, you mentioned:

s.sweeny wrote:QR_BBPOST There are physical indicators of harm to Callen and there are also psychological indicators of harm to both Callen and his sister Kaya.

What are the indicators?

The rest of your response is good!

,
Lorina

Thank you for the reply!

If I add this, my response should be complete?

Physical Indicators (Callen)- Black eye and 50 cent size bump on forehead. Mother has told educator that his father has hit him for crying.
Behavioural Indicators (Callen)- Change in behaviour, no longer socialising, is now withdrawn . Cries and appears frightened when approached by educators.
Behavioural Indicators (Kaya)- Change in behaviour, is now acting aggressively towards other children. Fully toilet-trained for six months and has begun have toileting accidents.

Thank you so much for your help!