Help with selecting a tree

 

Decision Tree		Use this when:
Physical Abuse		You suspect a non-accidental injury to a child/young person that may have been caused by a parent/carer or other adult household member. You know of treatment of a child/young person by a parent/carer or other adult household member that may have caused or is likely to cause an injury. Child/young person was injured, or nearly injured, during a domestic violence incident involving adults. NOTE: If any of the above are true, but the person causing harm is a child living in the home, the decision to report should be guided by whether the incident was due to neglect: supervision. Please refer to that decision tree. If a child was injured by a non-household member, the issue may be a police matter.
Neglect		You suspect that a parent/carer is not adequately meeting child/young person needs.  A child/young person appears neglected. A child/young person is a danger to self or others and parents/carers are not supervising or providing care. NOTE: For concerns related to shelter, use this tree for a young person who is able to make an informed decision around placement. Use ‘Relinquishing Care’ if young person is unable to make an informed decision and for children whose parent/carer is refusing to provide shelter. Click here for more information about Neglect
Sexual Abuse		Sexual abuse is sexual activity or behaviour that is imposed, or is likely to be imposed, on a child/young person by another person. You learn about sexual abuse or have concerns about sexual contact involving a child/young person. A child/young person has medical findings suspicious for sexual abuse. A child/young person’s behaviour, including sexualised behaviour, makes you worry that he/she may be a victim of sexual abuse. You are concerned that a child/young person is at risk of sexual abuse. You are concerned about a child/young person’s sexually abusive behaviour toward others. Click here for more information about Sexual Abuse
Psychological Harm		A child/young person appears to be experiencing psychological/emotional distress that is a result of parent/carer behaviour such as domestic violence. A child/young person is a danger to self or others as a consequence of parent/carer behaviour. You are aware of parent/carer behaviours, including domestic violence, that are likely to result in significant psychological harm. NOTE: When a child/young person exhibits emotional or psychological distress, including being a danger to self or others, but the reporter lacks information on whether parent/carer behaviour had contributed to this distress, the Neglect: Supervision or Neglect: Mental Health Care Decision Trees may be more appropriate.
Relinquishing Care		Parent/carer states he/she will not or cannot continue to provide care for child under the age of 16 or a young person over age 16 when he/she is currently unable to make an informed decision (temporarily or permanently).  If the young person is 16 years old or over and able to make informed decisions, please refer to the ‘Physical Shelter’ tree. Child/young person is in voluntary care for longer than legislation allows. NOTE: See Glossary for definition of Informal Care Arrangements.
Carer Concern		You have information that the child/young person is significantly affected by carer concerns. NOTE:  If child/young person has already experienced abuse or neglect, use the relevant abuse/neglect decision trees first.  If a report to CS is not indicated using those decision trees, you may consider a Carer Concern decision tree. Click here for more information about Carer Concern
Unborn Child		Use this when you are concerned for the welfare of an unborn child upon his/her birth. NOTE:  Reports related to an unborn child are not mandatory. Whilst reports relating to an unborn child are not mandatory, those with mandatory reporting responsibility should consider the benefits for the mother and unborn child of making a report to: Enable CS and other agencies to mobilise services for the potential benefit of the mother and unborn child; or Enable CS to prepare appropriate statutory/protective intervention following the birth of the child.
None of the above, but CS notification is being made because:
A child/young person who is in the care of the Minister is*:	Pregnant Runaway Missing Homeless   NOTE: If your concerns do not lead to a report to CS, advise the Child Protection Helpline that the information is being made solely because the child/young person is in care and not due to abuse or neglect.

*If you are concerned about a child/young person who is in the care of the Minister and do not suspect that the child/young person has been abused or neglected, but you have information that he/she has run away, is missing, is homeless or is pregnant, provide the information to CS, and there are no further reporting requirements.

 

 

More information about Neglect

Supervision	A child/young person has been or is going to be alone. A parent/carer is persistently inattentive or leaving child/young person alone or in dangerous company, resulting in or likely to result in significant adverse effects (e.g. social/developmental delays). A child/young person is a danger to self or others and parent/carer is not providing adequate supervision.
Shelter/Environment	A child/young person or family is homeless. A child/young person is living in a dangerous environment. A child/young person is refusing to stay in an available safe place.
Food	A child/young person is not receiving appropriate nutrition.
Hygiene/Clothing	A child/young person appears extremely dirty. A child/young person is wearing clothing that is not at all appropriate for conditions. A parent/carer is not attending to the child/young person’s need for personal hygiene and/or appropriate clothing.
Medical Care	A child/young person has an untreated/inappropriately treated medical condition.
Mental Health Care	A child/young person has an untreated/inappropriately treated mental health condition. A child/young person is a danger to self or others and parent/carer is not providing intervention.
Education	A child/young person of compulsory school age is not enrolled. A child/young person of compulsory school age is habitually absent.

 

More information about Carer Concern

Substance Abuse	Use this when a child/young person discloses significant substance use by a parent/carer. You observe a parent/carer to be significantly impaired by substance use. Inappropriate parent/carer substance use is reported to you by a third party. A child is born and there is evidence that the child was exposed to alcohol or drugs.
Mental Health	A child/young person discloses significant parent/carer mental health concerns. You observe a parent/carer to be significantly impaired by mental health concerns. Parent/carer mental health concerns are reported to you by a third party.
Domestic Violence	You are aware of an incident of domestic violence (observed by you or reported to you) that did not result in injury to a child/young person or psychological harm to a child/young person. You suspect domestic violence based on observations of extreme power/control dynamics (e.g., extreme isolation) or threats of harm to adults in household.

 

More information about Sexual Abuse

Child	The reported victim or potential victim is under age 16.
Young Person	The reported victim or potential victim is age 16 or 17.
Problematic Sexual Behaviour Toward Others	You are concerned that a child/young person has initiated sexually abusive behaviour.