Child protection refers to the actions and responsibilities taken to ensure children are safe from harm, abuse, and neglect.
All professionals working with children have a duty of care to prioritise the child’s wellbeing at all times.
Child abuse can take many forms, including:
Children may experience more than one type of abuse at the same time.
Recognising abuse is not always straightforward. You must look for patterns over time, not just one incident.
A single sign may not mean abuse, but repeated signs should raise concern.
If a child tells you something concerning:
Your role is to listen and report — not investigate.
Duty of care means you are responsible for:
Failing to act can place a child at further risk.
In NSW, certain workers (including educators and carers) are mandatory reporters.
This means:
When you suspect harm:
Follow these steps:
What NOT to do:
