Hon Sue Ellery asks about child sexual abuse inquiries and safety assessments between June and August 2012, including mandated reporter categories and harm types. The response provides data but refers charge-related questions to the Minister for Police due to a lack of systematic recording by the Department of Child Protection.

AnsweredQoN 6013Legislative Council
Asked
12 September 2012
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

(1) For the period, 1 June 2012 to 31 August 2012, what was the number of initial inquiries in relation to suspected child sexual abuse received by district and by category of mandated referrer?
(2) For the period, 1 June 2012 to 31 August 2012, what was the number of Safety and Wellbeing Assessment with harm assessment, by district and by category of harm in relation to —
(a) neglect;
(b) sexual;
(c) physical abuse; and
(d) emotional abuse?
(3) Has Western Australia Police notified the Department of Child Protection that charges had been laid in respect of any of the Safety and Wellbeing Assessments recorded in the period from 1 June 2012 to 31 August 2012
(4) If yes to (3), how many individuals were charged and what was the nature of these charges?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
34 days
(1) There were 779 initial inquiries for a child between 1 June 2012 and 31 August 2012 where the primary concern was sexual abuse, in the following districts:
Armadale - 51
Cannington - 42
Crisis Care - 156
East Kimberley - 17
Fremantle - 20
Goldfields - 23
Great Southern - 32
Joondalup - 53
Midland - 62
Mirrabooka - 31
Murchison - 48
Peel - 38
Perth - 42
Pilbara - 15
Rockingham - 79
South West - 18
West Kimberley - 31
Wheatbelt - 21.
By category of mandated reporter:
Doctor - 67
Midwife - 3
Nurse - 55
Police officer - 231
Teacher or principal - 189
Non-mandated referrers - 234.
(2) There were 2,801 safety and wellbeing assessments with harm concerns recorded between 1 June 2012 and 31 August 2012, in the following districts:
Armadale - 238
Cannington - 198
Crisis Care - 153
East Kimberley - 51
Fremantle - 120
Goldfields - 113
Great Southern - 111
Joondalup - 171
Midland - 303
Mirrabooka - 184
Murchison - 239
Peel - 107
Perth - 146
Pilbara - 60
Rockingham - 329
South West - 139
West Kimberley - 70
Wheatbelt - 69.
By category of harm:
(a) Neglect - 1,033
(b) Sexual - 728
(c) Physical - 966
(d) Emotional/psychological - 1,115.
(3) These details may be included in individual case notes, however the Department does not systematically record this information.  Questions regarding charges should be referred to the Minister for Police.
(4) Not applicable.
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