❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding child sexual abuse reports, including the number of reports, comparison to the previous year, and a breakdown of mandated professionals making the reports. The Minister's answer indicates an increase in reporting and provides a breakdown of professions.
AnsweredQoN 422Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
(1) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the mandatory reporting service, by month, from 1 January 2009 until 31 March 2009? (2) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the Department for Child Protection during the same period in 2008? (3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
(1) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the mandatory reporting service, by month, from 1 January 2009 until 31 March 2009? (2) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the Department for Child Protection during the same period in 2008? (3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(2) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the Department for Child Protection during the same period in 2008? (3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(2) How many reports of child sexual abuse were made to the Department for Child Protection during the same period in 2008? (3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(3) Can the minister provide a breakdown of the mandated professionals reporting to the mandatory reporting service? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory reporting service started on 1 January. Many people are interested in these figures. (1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(1) There were 382 mandatory reports received during this period, with 93 received in January, 133 in February and 156 in March. Ninety-five of these reports related to matters already under assessment by the department or were additional reports about the same child or incident. The remaining 287 mandatory reports resulted in 360 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse. In addition, there were also 26 new notifications of suspected sexual abuse arising from 80 referrals made to the mandatory reporting service that were not mandatory reports. For example, the suspected abuse occurred prior to 1 January 2009 and the referrer had concerns for the child but not to the point where he or she had formed a belief that the child was being sexually abused. (2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(2) There were 398 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received during the equivalent period in 2008 compared with 732 notifications of suspected sexual abuse received between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2009. Some of this increase from the equivalent period last year is due to the inclusion of extra familial abuse cases in the 2009 figures. (3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
(3) Of the 382 mandatory reports received to 31 March 2009, which include multiple reports and reports on matters already under assessment, 97 were made by doctors, 35 by nurses, 186 by police and 64 by teachers and school principals. Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
Mandatory reporting is working and it is working well. The mandated professionals are reporting. Even though those figures are a lot higher than for the corresponding period in 2008, we must be very careful when making comparisons.
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