- Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse now legal requirement for 30,000 early childhood workers
- Part of the staged expansion of mandatory reporter groups in Western Australia
- Sector supported with free training and resources to understand the signs of child sexual abuse and requirements of mandatory reporters
Early childhood workers are now legally required to report child sexual abuse with new laws coming into effect from today.
The State Government is expanding Western Australia’s mandatory reporter groups to include more professions to help keep children and young people safe.
These changes implement recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission).
The expansion of the mandatory reporting groups is being staged to ensure each group receives the necessary training and support to fulfil their new mandatory reporting obligations.
This includes online training and resources available to help detect early warning signs of child sexual abuse, such as a change in a child’s behaviour or physical signs
Early childhood workers join 12 other groups of mandatory reporters in WA.
Mandatory reporters currently include doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers (including TAFE lecturers), police officers, psychologists, school counsellors, boarding supervisors, ministers of religion, out-of-home care workers, departmental officers of the Department of Communities and assessors appointed under section 125A of the Children and Community Services Act 2004.
The next group to be added to the mandatory reporter groups is youth justice workers from May 2025.
Mandatory reporters are required to report all reasonable beliefs of child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities.
Failure to make a mandatory report is an offence with a maximum penalty of $6,000.
The Western Australian Government has invested $1.7 million to support the expansion of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in WA and a further $2 million to support compliance with mandatory reporting, with new enforcement powers in theChildren and Community Services Act 2004.
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As stated by Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton:
“Early identification and reporting of concerns is critical in protecting Western Australia’s children and young people from harm.
“Early childhood workers play a key role in supporting children in Western Australia and through this expansion, over 30,000 professionals can help keep children safer by reporting any reasonable beliefs of child sexual abuse.
“Expanding the mandatory reporter groups is just one of the ways the State Government is working to better protect children and young people in WA.
“Our Government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission by promoting and protecting the rights and interests of all Western Australian children and young people.”
