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
- The child is aged 10 or over, but under 18 years. They have engaged in sexually abusive behaviour (also known as harmful sexual behaviour) and are in need of therapeutic treatment.
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.
Quick reference flowchart
Download and print our Pathways for child safety and wellbeing flowchart to help your decision making.