Guidance on Reporting Protocols for Suspected Infant Abuse or Neglect Without Visible Injuries and Adequacy of Early Intervention Safeguards

Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what guidance is provided to caregivers and healthcare professionals who suspect infant abuse or neglect without visible injuries; and (b) whether reporting protocols adequately enable early intervention before serious harm occurs, while protecting children and families from inappropriate or unfounded interventions.

Answer:

            The guidance for caregivers is intentionally kept simple: if they have any reason to suspect that a child is experiencing abuse, they should report to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH), even in the absence of visible injuries.

2.          For frontline professionals, including healthcare professionals, standardised child abuse reporting tools are used. The tools provide a structured way to assess all relevant information and factors, leading to a decision whether to report to NAVH, or, where there is immediate danger, to the Police.

3.          When a report is made to NAVH, it will be further assessed, further information established and triaged according to the nature and severity of the concerns.

4.          Child protection professionals must often make difficult assessments based on incomplete and evolving information, including information provided by those caring for the child. While no child protection system can uncover every concealment or misrepresentation, or detect every case in time, this does not diminish our collective responsibility to learn from serious cases and continually strengthen how concerns are identified, shared and followed up.