Reporting child abuse and neglect guidelines updated

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has recently updated its guidance around state-specific reporting of child abuse and neglect, issuing a resource sheet for service providers to assist them in meeting their mandatory reporting obligations.

Information on how to respond to disclosures of abuse is also provided, alongside guidance for supporting families and other caregivers when there are concerns about not coping with parenting abilities.

The resource sheet provides information to service providers and practitioners working in the child, family and community welfare sector on how to report suspected child abuse and neglect. It defines child abuse and neglect, and provides contact details for the reporting authority in each state and territory.

The newly updated resource can be found on the AIFS website.