❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse by specific professions, answered by Hon Kate Doust outlining relevant legislation and obligations.
AnsweredQoN 987Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - MANDATORY REPORTING
(1) Are the following categories of employment bound by legislation that requires the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse: doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, psychologists, police, community corrections officers, social workers, teachers and family day care providers? (2) Which sections of state legislation cover the specific employment categories listed above? Hon KATE DOUST
(1) Are the following categories of employment bound by legislation that requires the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse: doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, psychologists, police, community corrections officers, social workers, teachers and family day care providers? (2) Which sections of state legislation cover the specific employment categories listed above? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
(2) Which sections of state legislation cover the specific employment categories listed above? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
(1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
(2) Which sections of state legislation cover the specific employment categories listed above? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
(1)-(2) The Health Act 1911 requires that medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and pathology laboratories report sexually transmitted infections, including those in children, to the Department of Health. Furthermore, through policy-based protocols between the Department of Health, the Department for Community Development and WA Police, all children under 14 years of age with a sexually transmittable infection, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 with an STI acquired through abuse, must be reported. Regulations under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 require that providers of a children’s service report abuse of a child in the service. This includes childcare centres, family day care, outside school hours care centres and outside school hours family day care. Section 160 of the Family Court Act 1997 requires that people in specified positions performing duties or functions, or exercising powers under the act, must report child abuse. Except in the situations outlined above, other occupations referred to in the question, such as pharmacists and dentists, are not required under legislation to make reports. Serious abuse of a child is a crime. All citizens have an obligation to report crimes to the police.
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