Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility and while some professionals hold mandatory reporting obligations, we all have a role and responsibility in ensuring children and young people are safe from harm, abuse and their wellbeing is supported.
It is your responsibility to know your responsibilities.
If you are a teacher, you can access advice from the Department of Education
Reporting and referrals
I’m worried about a child or young person, what should I do?
- Use the information on this page to identify the appropriate service response for your concern
- Make sure you have enough information for a support service to make an assessment about how to best engage and support a family
- Use information sharing to better understand the situation for the child and/or young person
- Support the child or young person in the setting where you have contact with them (for example, within a school).
If in doubt or if you need clarity about the right service response, seek advice from The Orange Door
Making a referral
The Orange Door is a free intake and assessment service for:
- Families requiring support for their children or young person’s wellbeing or development
- Children, young people or families needing parenting support
- Young, isolated, or unsupported families
- Individuals and families experiencing family violence
- Adults using family violence
- Young people using violence in the home.
Making a mandatory report or a child protection report
It is mandatory to report to child protection when:
- You are a mandated reporter (list of mandatory reporters) and
- In the course of practising your profession or carrying out duties of your office, position or employment, you form a belief on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse.
Other circumstances when you should make a report to child protection:
- You have formed a belief on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection
- The child's parent/s have not protected or are unlikely to protect the child from this harm
- The child is under 17 years old and needs statutory intervention
- Severe emotional or psychological abuse is happening
- Serious neglect is affecting the child's development or safety
- A child is at significant risk of abuse or harm.
In an emergency
Contact Victoria Police or Ambulance Victoria when:
- A child is in immediate physical danger
- A criminal offence against a child has occurred
- A child is missing or has been abducted
- There is an emergency situation requiring immediate response
- Family violence is occurring with immediate risk to children
- You witness a crime against a child in progress.
Still unsure?
Get educated
Read detailed information about reporting thresholds and when to make a report.
Important information for mandatory reporters
Additional resources
Training and materials
Professional development resources for mandatory reporters – available to departmental staff only.