Policy

Practice

Quality

Research

Understanding Children

Workforce

Reporting child abuse and neglect guidelines updated

Freya Lucas

Nov 01, 2018

Save

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.

Don’t miss a thing

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

More than 100 regulatory officers conducted unannounced inspections at over 220 early learning services in a single-day compliance operation, as the NSW Early Learning Commission intensifies oversight across the sector.

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

In February the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal handled two separate disciplinary proceedings brought by the CEO of the Department of Communities against out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) providers. Both cases highlight critical failures in active supervision, particularly concerning highly vulnerable children diagnosed with autism who managed to wander away from their respective services unnoticed.

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Water safety remains at the forefront of national concern, as drowning continues to be the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 0-4.

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

The journey to embed ecological identity is a personal one, as identity sits close to one’s heart and is shaped from our own foundational years. For myself, it was founded in warm summer afternoons playing in the rockpools along the beaches in Sydney, discovering the names of all the little creatures that lurked there, including the starfish that suctioned to my curious fingertips.

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

There is a growing number of “serious incidents” in Australian early childhood services, including day cares.

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Water safety remains at the forefront of national concern, as drowning continues to be the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 0-4.

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

There is a growing number of “serious incidents” in Australian early childhood services, including day cares.

Don’t miss a thing

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

Exploring the Junior Landcare 2026 calendar: a year of environmental learning for early years

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

Burnout in early childhood education: Why leadership support is the missing lever

Integrated school and early learning hubs linked to stronger transitions and family engagement

Fiona Alston

Feb 19, 2026

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.

Don’t miss a thing

Related Articles

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

Related Articles

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

Don’t miss a thing

Related Articles

Loading...

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

Exploring the Junior Landcare 2026 calendar: a year of environmental learning for early years

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

Burnout in early childhood education: Why leadership support is the missing lever

Integrated school and early learning hubs linked to stronger transitions and family engagement

Keep Exploring