Child protection authorities and related community organisations
The Child Safety Commissioner
The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner makes children a priority. The Commissioner provides advice to both the Minister for Community Services and the Minister for Children on issues impacting on the lives of children, in particular vulnerable children. This is achieved through listening to children, advocating on their behalf, being impartial, leading on child-safe practices, acting with integrity, and being held accountable.
There are three major streams in the office:
- The Out of Home Care Monitoring Unit monitors the standard and quality of care received by children and young people who need out-of-home care and promotes continuous improvement of the services
- Inquiry and Review Unit conducts inquiries into the deaths of children and young people known to the Child Protection service system and undertakes inquiries into other matters referred by the Minister for Children
- Promotion and Policy Unit works with the community and business to promote child-safe environments in organisations that engage people to volunteer or work with children. It conducts a review of the Working with Children Check system and it also works to educate and inform the community about the Working with Children Act 2005.
Suitability Panel
The Suitability Panel (the Panel) investigates allegations of physical and sexual abuse against a child or young person in an out of home care service. A panel (Suitability Panel) assesses whether an allegation of physical or sexual abuse against a child is proved and whether, as a result, an individual is found to pose an unacceptable risk of harm to children and is therefore disqualified from being registered to care for children.
The Suitability Panel can decide:
- whether an out-of-home-carer (a carer) should be disqualified from being on the register of carers or
- whether a carer's disqualification should be removed
Who can make a notification?
Any person may report or make a notification to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS) alleging physical or sexual abuse by a foster carer or a residential out of home carer towards a child or young person under the age of 18 years at the time of the alleged abuse.
Following a notification, the Secretary of DHS will decide whether to have the matter investigated. Instances of alleged abuse dating from 7 December 2002 may be investigated. An independent investigator will conduct the investigation and report to the Secretary. The Secretary will then decide whether or not to refer the matter to the Suitability Panel.
- Australian Childhood Foundation
The Australian Childhood Foundation website has information about child abuse and neglect, and about who the organisation is and what they do.
- National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) site provides information to support parents and caregivers.
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
A leading charity in the United Kindgom specialising in child protection and prevention of cruelty to children.
