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Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy

MP 0166/21 - Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy (pdf 119KB)

Applicable to: This Policy is applicable to all Health Service Providers that provide clinical services and the NurseWest unit of Health Support Services.

Description: The Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy establishes the minimum requirements for Health Service Providers to support staff to meet their legislative reporting requirements as they relate to child sexual abuse.

The Children and Community Services Act 2004 is the principal legislation governing the care and protection of children in Western Australia and section 124B confers a mandatory duty on prescribed health professionals to report concerns of child sexual abuse to Department of Communities.

The onus of meeting these obligations rests with individual employees. However, to meet this obligation, and to manage organisational risk, it is incumbent upon Health Service Providers to ensure that relevant staff complete appropriate education and training to fulfil their legislative requirements.

Further information on appropriately addressing child abuse concerns that staff identify through the provision of health services is located in the Guidelines for Protecting Children 2020, which should be read in conjunction with this Policy.

This Policy is a mandatory requirement under the Clinical Services Planning and Programs Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This Policy supersedes OD 0606/14 Guidelines for Protecting Children 2015.

Date of effect: 22 July 2021