Report: respond to child abuse by an adult engaged by an independent school

Victoria Police can:

• investigate the situation
• assess risk
• interview and take statements from key people
• collect evidence
• enforce intervention orders
• make arrests and issue warnings.

Reports should be made as soon as reasonably practicable from when a report is received, as some crimes have a limitation period that may apply.

There is no time limit to report a crime about sexual abuse. Victoria Police will accept and assess all reports, no matter when the alleged crime occurred.

The above authorities work with each other as co-regulators in child safety.

There may be circumstances where your report needs to be shared with another agency. If this happens, the agency you submit your report to may ask to share the report with another agency.

Co-regulators are able to notify each other of certain conduct issues, if required. This is done in line with the Child Information Sharing Scheme.

If there is a significant child safety incident, independent schools are encouraged to report this to VRQA for support.

• Phone: +61 3 9637 2806 (from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday)
• Email vrqa@education.vic.gov.au

VIT receives notifications about registered teachers from Victoria Police(opens in a new window), SSR, and employers.

Victoria Police will notify VIT if a teacher has been charged with, convicted, or found guilty of a Category A or B offence.

SSR must notify VIT if a registered teacher is the subject of a reportable allegation or a finding of reportable conduct under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005.

Employers, including schools, must tell the VIT if they take any disciplinary actions against a teacher in response to:

• allegations of serious misconduct
• serious incompetence
• concerns that the teacher may be unfit to teach
• a teacher’s ability to do their job is seriously affected or likely to be affected by any impairment
• any other action that may be relevant to the teacher’s fitness to teach.

You can contact Independent Schools Victoria for support and advice on mandatory reporting.

• Call: 03 9825 7200
• Email: enquiries@is.vic.edu.au

You can contact VIT directly during business hours (9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday), for support and further information:

• General enquiries: 1300 888 067(opens in a new window)
• Principal enquiries: 1300 650 375(opens in a new window)

For further information, see the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Before engaging with parents and carers, you need clearance from:

• Victoria Police (in situations involving a police response)

Once you have clearance, you must inform the student’s parents or carers of the matter. This is a critical step. It helps parents or carers support their child in partnership with the school, authorities and support services. You must contact the parents or carers as soon as possible. Ideally, this should happen on the same day.

Victoria Police will:

• guide you on speaking to parents or carers
• tell you what information you can share with all impacted students and the wider school community.

Your primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the student. Before engaging with parents and carers consider whether it is safe to do so.

Do not engage with the student or their family if:

• it is unsafe. For example, if
  • it is likely to jeopardise a child’s wellbeing or safety or place another person at risk of harm
  • if could adversely affect an investigation
  • timeliness is an issue, such as when there is an immediate risk.
• it is inappropriate. For example, if:
  • a young person is living independently and their family members no longer have access to their personal information

For more information, follow the guidance on communicating with the family at contacting parents or carers.

If Victoria Police want to interview a student about abuse, schools can follow the guidance at interviews with students at school.

Leave the area where the incident occurred as you found it, until Victoria Police can attend and provide you with further instructions. Victoria Police will tell you what steps you need to take.

Your school must preserve any items that may be of potential forensic value that may later be seized by police. This may include:

• laptops
• other devices
• CCTV footage
• other objects and materials.

See preserving evidence.

Record all steps your school has taken in report. You can use the responding to child abuse template to do this.

See document your actions.