Protection of Children - Failure to Disclose Policy

Protecting children and young people against sexual abuse is a community wide responsibility.

DOSCEL has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure children and young people are safe in their care and to ensure that all forms of abusive behaviours towards children are prevented.

It is a clear legal duty of all adults to report child sexual abuse to police. Any adult who forms a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child has an obligation to report that information to Victoria Policy on 000 or the local police station.

It is an offence for a person in authority to fail to protect a child under the age of 16 years from a sexual offence when:

• The person has information sufficient to form a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed in Victoria against a child, and

• Without reasonable excuse, the person fails to report the information to Victoria Police as soon as practicable.

Related Information

• • Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes Policy

  • Child Protection and Safety Policy

  • Duty of Care Policy

  • Mandatory Reporting Policy

• Protection of Children - Anti-Grooming Policy

• Protection of Children - Failure to Protect Policy

Related Links

• Crimes Act 1958 (Vic.)

• Crimes Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2014 (Vic.)

• Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic.)