Reportable Conduct Scheme

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The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires some organisations to notify us of allegations of child abuse (and other child-related misconduct) made against their workers and volunteers, and investigate.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme enables the Social Services Regulator (SSR) to independently oversee the investigation, and to share information between organisations, their regulators, Victoria Police and the Working with Children Check scheme.

In February 2026, the SSR took over the Reportable Conduct Scheme from the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) as part of reforms to strengthen child safety.

From February 2026, organisations subject to the Reportable Conduct Scheme are legally required to notify the SSR of allegations of reportable conduct against a child or young person by a worker or volunteer in their organisation.

If you previously submitted or had a matter with CCYP relating to the Reportable Conduct Scheme or the Child Safe Standards, you do not need to do anything, it has been transferred to the SSR.

From 23 February 2026, organisations subject to the Reportable Conduct Scheme are legally required to notify the SSR of allegations of reportable conduct against a child or young person by a worker or volunteer in their organisation.

If you have any questions or concerns you can contact us at contact@ssr.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) or 1300 310 778(opens in a new window).

About the Reportable Conduct Scheme

In summary, the Reportable Conduct Scheme:

  • requires some organisations to respond to allegations of child abuse (and other child-related misconduct) made against their workers and volunteers, and to notify us of any allegations
  • enables us to independently oversee those responses
  • facilitates information sharing between organisations, their regulators, Victoria Police, and the Working with Children Check scheme.

The Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme seeks to improve organisations’ responses to allegations of child abuse and neglect against their workers and volunteers. It was established by the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005.

The SSR’s role includes:

  • supporting and guiding organisations that receive allegations, to promote fair, effective, timely and appropriate responses
  • independently overseeing, monitoring and, where appropriate, making recommendations to improve the responses of those organisations.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme has been designed to ensure that the SSR will be aware of every allegation of certain types of misconduct involving children (anyone under the age of 18) in relevant organisations that exercise care, supervision and authority over children.

The SSR can also share information where appropriate, including with:

  • Working with Children Check Victoria (also administered by the SSR after transferring from the Department of Government Services)
  • relevant regulators, such as the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
  • Victoria Police

Importantly, a finding that a person has engaged in reportable conduct triggers an assessment of whether that person is suitable to continue to work or volunteer with children. This may lead the SSR to revoke a person’s Working with Children Check.

What is reportable conduct?

Find out what is considered to be reportable conduct under the Reportable Conduct Scheme with the factsheet: What is considered to be reportable conduct?(opens in a new window)

What does the SSR do with the allegations it receives?

We will carefully consider each allegation. Based on the information available, the SSR may decide to:

  • provide the organisation responding to the allegation support and guidance
  • check that the organisation is handling the allegation in an appropriate and timely manner
  • refer allegations and findings to relevant regulators such as the Victorian Institute of Teaching, or other professional accreditation bodies.

Notifying a reportable allegation.

What we can help you with

We can assist with the following about the Reportable Conduct Scheme:

  • Information about how to raise a reportable allegation and notify the SSR under the Reportable Conduct Scheme (see further information below)
  • concerns that the head of an organisation has engaged in reportable conduct
  • concerns that an organisation has not notified the SSR about a reportable allegation
  • concerns that an organisation has not investigated a reportable allegation
  • concerns that an organisation does not have systems in place to:
  • prevent an employee from engaging in reportable conduct
  • enable employees or members of the public to notify the organisation about a reportable allegation
  • investigate and respond to a reportable allegation.

Our powers under the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, we have the power to:

  • receive allegations and findings of reportable conduct
  • assess an organisation’s systems to prevent, notify, and investigate reportable conduct
  • provide oversight of workplace investigations into reportable allegations
  • investigate allegations in some circumstances
  • cross reference findings with the SSR's Working with Children Check scheme or refer findings to professional registration bodies
  • build the capacity of organisations to respond to allegations of abuse
  • report to the Victorian Parliament on performance of the Reportable Conduct Scheme and trends.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme does not replace or interfere with police investigations. We work with Victoria Police to make sure allegations of criminal conduct are dealt with appropriately.

When must an allegation be reported to the SSR under the Reportable Conduct Scheme?

The head of an organisation covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme must report to the SSR any reportable allegations made against their workers or volunteers within three business days of becoming aware of the allegation. Further information on reporting to the SSR can be found at About reporting an allegation.

Allegations about the conduct of workers and volunteers must be reported, even if:

  • they do not have direct contact with children in their role at the organisation
  • the conduct occurred outside of their work.

Allegations about the conduct of workers or volunteers may need to be reported to the SSR under the Reportable Conduct Scheme even when the alleged conduct happened before they started working for the organisation or when the allegation is raised after they have left the organisation.

Further information on reporting historical allegations can be found at the information sheet: Reportable Conduct Scheme – historical allegations.

Who does the Reportable Conduct Scheme apply to?

People

Allegations can be raised about the conduct of the following people employed or engaged by an organisation that is in scope for the Reportable Conduct Scheme:

  • employees
  • volunteers
  • contractors
  • office holders
  • ministers of religion
  • officers of a religious body
  • foster and kinship carers in a formal care arrangement.
  • secondees
  • individual business owners who employ or engage staff
  • directors of companies where the director performs work for the organisation.

It is important for your organisation to consider the circumstances, contracts and other agreements for each individual worker or volunteer to know if they are covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme as individual arrangements will differ.

Find out more about workers and volunteers covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme. All enquiries about the Reportable Conduct Scheme must be directed to the SSR.

We can only accept an allegation about the conduct of a person who is 18 years or older against, with or in the presence of a child who is under 18 years.

Organisations

The types of organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme include:

  • registered government or non-government schools
  • organisations that are registered in respect of an accredited senior secondary course or registered senior secondary qualification
  • organisations that are approved to:
    • provide certain courses to students from overseas
    • operate an overseas student exchange program
  • disability service providers that provide residential services for children with a disability
  • mental health service providers with in-patient beds
  • organisations that receive state government funding and:
    • provide a drug or alcohol treatment service with in-patient beds
    • provide a housing service or other assistance to homeless persons with overnight beds for children and young people
    • provide child protection services
  • out-of-home care services
  • Victorian Government departments
  • religious bodies
  • organisations that:
    • operate a residential facility for a boarding school
    • provide overnight camps for children as part of its primary activity (except certain youth organisations)
    • are a public or denominational hospital or operate a private hospital
    • are a public health service
  • disability service providers, including but not limited to, registered disability service providers
  • approved education and care services (e.g. kindergartens, after hours care services)
  • children’s services (e.g. occasional care providers)
  • certain prescribed art centres, libraries, museums, zoos, parks and gardens.
  • youth organisations that provide overnight camps for children as part of their primary activity.

If you are unsure about whether your organisation is required to comply with the Reportable Conduct Scheme, email contact@ssr.vic.gov.au.

For heads of organisations

Responsibilities of heads of organisations

Under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, heads of organisations covered by the scheme have certain obligations. This includes requirements to:

  • ensure that the SSR is notified about allegations of child abuse and given updates on the organisation’s response
  • have systems in place to prevent child abuse and, if child abuse is alleged, to ensure allegations can be brought to the attention of appropriate persons for investigation and response.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme does not replace the need to report allegations of child abuse, including criminal conduct and family violence, to Victoria Police.

Find out more at the information sheet: Responsibilities for heads of an organisation.

How do I notify the SSR about a reportable allegation?

Organisations subject to the Reportable Conduct Scheme are legally required to notify the SSR of allegations of reportable conduct against a child or young person by a worker or volunteer in their organisation.

Organisations must notify us within three business days of the head of the organisation becoming aware of a reportable allegation.

Members of the public can also notify us about allegations of reportable conduct by making a public notification.

When should I tell the SSR

Within three business days after becoming aware of a reportable allegation, heads of organisations must notify us that a reportable allegation has been made against one of their workers or volunteers.

Within 30 calendar days after becoming aware of a reportable allegation, a head of an organisation must provide the SSR with detailed information about the allegation, disciplinary or other actions undertaken, and the response of the worker or volunteer to the allegation.

It is a criminal offence for a head of an organisation to fail to comply with the three-day and 30-day notification obligations without a reasonable excuse.

You can find further resources on the Reportable Conduct Scheme on the CCYP website.

How do I give the SSR information?

The SSR operates an online form for heads of organisations to notify of a reportable allegation, which will guide them through the notification process. Supporting documentation can be submitted through the online form. The SSR requires that heads of organisations use the online form.

If you are not the head of an organisation you can still tell the SSR about a reportable allegation by using the secure webform, calling or writing to us:

If you are in doubt about how to complete the online form, we encourage you to contact the SSR for advice and support.

What should be reported to Victoria Police?

All suspected criminal behaviour should be reported to Victoria Police.

If the reportable allegation involves suspected criminal behaviour, both Victoria Police and the SSR must be notified.

A police investigation into any matter takes priority over a reportable conduct investigation, and may require an organisation’s investigation to be put on hold until the police investigation is complete.

Heads of organisations should consult with Victoria Police before beginning an investigation to gain their advice and find out if police are, or will be, conducting an investigation. To report an concern or allegation under the Reportable Conduct Scheme go directly to the secure webform.

Investigating allegations

Heads of organisations are responsible for ensuring that an investigation is conducted. If an allegation might involve criminal conduct and has been reported to Victoria Police, an organisation must not start their own investigation until and unless police have provided clearance to commence.

Organisations must provide the SSR updates about:

  • who will conduct the investigation
  • the outcomes of the investigation
  • the actions that the organisation will take as a result of those outcomes.

For more information on investigations, see our information sheet Investigation overview.

What if an allegation is made against me?

There is information for workers and volunteers on the Reportable Conduct Scheme in the information sheet: Workers and volunteers.

Resources

Regulatory reform

Updated

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