Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy
MP 0166/21 - Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy (pdf 174KB)
Applicable to: This Policy is applicable to all Health Service Providers that provide clinical services and the NurseWest unit of Health Support Services.
Description: The Children and Community Services Act 2004 governs the care and protection of children in Western Australia. Section 124(b) of this Act confers a mandatory duty on prescribed health professionals to report concerns of child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities.
The Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Training Policy establishes the minimum requirements for Health Service Providers (HSPs) to support staff to meet their legislative reporting requirements as they relate to child sexual abuse.
The onus of meeting these obligations rests with individual employees. However, to meet this obligation, and to manage organisational risk, it is incumbent upon HSPs to ensure relevant staff complete appropriate education and training to fulfil their legislative requirements.
This policy is a mandatory requirement under the Clinical Services Planning and Programs Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.
This policy supersedes OD 0606/14 Guidelines for Protecting Children 2015.
Date of effect: 22 July 2021
Policy Framework
Clinical Services Planning and Programs
Guidelines for Protecting Children 2020
State-wide Protection of Children Coordination Unit (SPOCC) Education and Training website