Slide 1

Independent Schools
Queensland
Child Protection – Recent Changes
November 2014


Slide 2

Why have things changed?
• The Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child
Protection report (known as the Carmody Report) of June
2013
• Amendment of the Child Protection Act 1999 (“the CPA”)
• Amendment of the Education (Accreditation of Non-State
Schools) Regulations 2001 (the “Accreditation Regulations”)


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What are the key changes?
Key changes to the CPA:
1. Teachers now named as mandatory reporters of
“reportable suspicions” to Child Safety
2. New Community-Based Intake and Referral service called
“Family and Child Connect”

Key changes to the Accreditation Regulations:
3. Makes reporting obligations more consistent
Note: see the Fact Sheet provided by ISQ for more information
on the changes


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What’s staying the same?
• The requirements under the Education (General Provisions)
Act 2006 (“the EGPA”) are not changing
– Protection from liability still exists

– Reporters’ confidentiality is still protected


Slide 5

Mandatory Reporting - what
is a reportable suspicion?
• As mandatory reporters, teachers must report “reportable
suspicions” of physical and sexual abuse to Child Safety

• What is a “reportable suspicion”?


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Mandatory Reporting –
breaking it down
Breaking down the definition of a reportable suspicion:
• Formed in the course of the teacher’s employment
• Relates to significant harm
– The significant harm must be caused by sexual and
physical abuse only
• The child may not have a parent willing and able to protect
them from the harm
• Reported via the Principal to Child Safety
Note: see the Fact Sheet provided by ISQ for more definitions


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Accreditation Regulations
– what to report?
• Previously – all staff report all types of harm (other than

sexual) via the Principal to Police or Child Safety
• Now – all staff report all types of harm (other than sexual),
that are significant and where the child may not have a
parent willing and able to protect them, via the Principal to
Child Safety


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Family and Child Connect what is it and when to use it?
Family and Child Connect is a Community-Based Intake and Referral
service. It aims to link vulnerable children and their families with
appropriate local support services . Use when –
• You have concerns that are not of a level requiring a report to
Child Safety; or
• You believe that a student is likely to become in need of
protection if no preventative support is provided
• Refer to Family and Child Connect with the family’s consent

Note: see the related Fact Sheet provided by ISQ


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So what does all this mean
for me at my school?
Summary of reporting harm:
Who

What abuse

Test

Report to

Legislation

Status

All staff

Sexual

Principal,
through to
Police

EGPA

Unchanged

Teacher

Sexual and physical

Awareness or a reasonable
suspicion
Sexually abused or likely to be
sexually abused
Significant harm
Parent willing and able

CPA

New

All staff

Physical, psychological,
emotional, neglect,
exploitation

Significant harm
Parent willing and able

Principal,
through to Child
Safety
Principal,
through to Child
Safety

Accreditation
Regulations

Amended

All staff

Any

Not of a level that is otherwise
reportable to Child Safety,
refer with consent

Principal,
through to CBIR

CPA

New

Principal

Any

Not of a level that is otherwise
reportable to Child Safety,
refer without consent

CBIR

CPA

New

Any member of
the public

Any

Significant harm
Parent willing and able

Child Safety

CPA

Unchanged


Slide 10

Child Protection Guide
Resource
• Child Safety has developed a Queensland Child Protection

Guide, known as the CPG

• The CPG is an online decision support tool that has been

designed for professionals who hold concerns about children


Slide 11


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ISQ Resources
ISQ has developed:
• Child Protection Policy
• Child Protection Procedure Fact Sheet
• Fact Sheets
• Decision trees
• Table summarising the reporting of harm
• Scenario activities
• Template forms
• Child Protection – Reporting Sexual Abuse under the EGPA presentation
See: http://www.isq.qld.edu.au/school-business-services


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Scenario 1
• Evan hasn’t brought food or money for lunch on 11 days in the
last 5 weeks. Evan isn’t thin and doesn’t talk about being hungry.
• The school has contacted Evan’s mother who said she thought
she had given Evan his lunch every day but sometimes she must
forget.
• Evan’s mother tries hard and Evan’s father is supportive but not
always able to assist due to work.
• The family isn’t currently getting any support. Evan’s mother has
said that she would like some help.
• Question – how would your decision regarding what action to
take change if the parents were not concerned about the
situation and were not receptive to support or advice?


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Scenario 2
• Mia has come to school complaining of a sore arm and is holding
her arm in an odd position.
• There is some bruising on Mia’s arm around her wrist and Mia
flinched when she bumped the arm.
• Mia didn’t provide a reason for her sore arm.
• A staff member overheard Mia telling her friends that she got into
a fight with her father.
• Mia lives with her mother and father.
• The school has tried to contact the parents but were not able to
speak with them.
• Question – would your decision regarding what action to take
differ under the old reporting requirements compared to now?


Slide 15

Questions? Comments?
School Services
Independent Schools Queensland
P: 3228 1515
E: [email protected]