Contact Details for Reporting Under CSCF
DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A REPORT?
This page provides the contact details for the Police and the Child Protection Agency for each state and territory to support Adults in Guiding if they need to make a report under the Child Safe Child Friendly (CSCF) Framework.
Included for each state and territory is:
- What must be reported to the police?
- Contact details for the statutory child protection agency
- How to lodge a Girl Guide Incident Report and Girl Guide Complaint Forms
The information is current as of October 2021.
Police contact details for anywhere in Australia
Telephone the emergency line triple zero (000) or 131 444
Remember this is used to access urgent assistance when the risk to safety of the child or others is immediate.
You may also use the phone number of your local police station – why not look it up and put it in your phone now?
Some useful information:
What must be reported to the police?
This section looks at the criminal law obligations of all adults in the community– whether a person is an Adult in Guiding or not.
In most Australian states and territories, it is a criminal offence if you do not make a report to police once you form a reasonable belief that a child has been abused or is being abused now. In South Australia this is expressed as the child having suffered of a type harm they would ordinarily be protected or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation.
While the CSCF Framework requires all Adults in Guiding to make reports of child abuse as if they are a mandated reporter, the obligation to make a report to police about certain matters is over and above any obligations under the mandatory reporting scheme. This means making a report to Girl Guides does not satisfy this extra obligation. If you make a report to the statutory child protection agency you should check with them if there is an obligation to inform police.
Creating a criminal offence is the way the state or territory tries to ensure all instances of child abuse are reported and the child protected.
Included under the information for each state and territory below in information to help you recognise when a criminal liability may arise for failing to report and provides some guidance to the most commonly applicable laws as at October 2021. This information is provided for information only, it is not a comprehensive legal account of all of these offences.
A person may have a reasonable excuse for not making a report to police. While the court would decide generally, the following are considered to be reasonable excuses if a person knows or reasonably believes that:
- the information has already been reported under mandatory reporting obligations
- on reasonable grounds another person has reported the same matter
- the information is already known to police
- the alleged victim is an adult at the time of providing the information and doesn’t want it reported to the police, or
- there are grounds to fear for the abused person’s safety or another person’s safety if a report is made to the police.
Best practice is still to report any instance of child abuse, neglect, harm or risk of harm to the police and/or statutory child protection agency. These agencies have the expertise to help and investigate the matter as appropriate. It is not the role of any Adult in Guiding to investigate a concern or for another person to decide if you should report or not report once you have formed a belief there is a reason to make a report.
Contact details for the statutory child protection agencies
The CSCF Framework requires all Adults in Guiding to act as if they are mandated reporters under their relevant state or territory legislation.
Reports of child abuse, neglect, harm or risk of harm are made the statutory child protection agency (as well as the police in some states and territories – see above).
How to lodge a Girl Guide Incident Report
You can lodge Girl Guide Incident Reports about all incidents, including notifying your SGGO that you have made a report about child abuse, neglect, harm and risk of harm to an external entity (police and/or statutory child protection agency) by lodging a Girl Guide Incident Report.
If you do not have access to email or need any assistance with lodging a Girl Guide Incident Report contact your supervisor or the SGGO office during business hours.
You should take this opportunity to save the phone number of your supervisor in Guiding into your phone e.g. all Leaders should have the phone number for their District Manager and Region Manger stored in their phone.
This information is current as at October 2021.
Girl Guiding in Australia appreciates that legislation and government arrangements regarding reporting may be subject to change.
While Girl Guides Australia endeavours to keep this information up to date, we ask that you report any details that are incorrect by emailing guides@girlguides.org.au.
Australian Capital Territory
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in the ACT are required to report information to ACT Policing if they reasonably believe a sexual offence has been committed against a child.
Sexual offences include:
- having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16
- grooming a person under 16
- being an adult who has ‘special care’ for a person who is under 18 (e.g. as a teacher, employer, foster parent, etc) and having sexual intercourse with that person
- certain family members having sexual intercourse with other family members
- committing an act of indecency on or in the presence of a child or young person
- using children to produce child abuse material
- maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under 16, or a person under 18 where there is a ‘special care’ relationship.
The maximum penalty for not reporting is imprisonment for two years.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS)
Reporting line: 1300 556 729
After Hours Crisis Services: 1300 556 729
General enquiries: 13 22 81
Reporting to Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT
incidentsandcomplaints@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
1300 447 548
New South Wales
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in NSW are required to report information to NSW Police if they:
- know, believe or reasonably ought to know that a child (under 18 years) has been abused, or
- know, believe, or reasonably ought to know that they have information that might materially assist in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of the offender.
This offence covers sexual abuse, serious physical abuse and extreme neglect of a child (under 18 years).
The maximum penalty for not reporting is imprisonment for two years.
Child Protection Agency contact details
NSW Government Department of Communities and Justice
(previously known as FACS and DoCS)
Child Protection Helpline: 13 21 11 (24 hours)
Translation and Interpreting Service: 131 450
Reporting to Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT
incidentsandcomplaints@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
1300 447 548
Northern Territory
What must be reported to the police?
In the NT all adults are required to report domestic violence, family violence as soon as possible. This includes if someone (including a child) has been seriously hurt or is in danger of being hurt.
Domestic or family violence can include any of the following:
- physical harm
- violent behaviour
- threatening behaviour
- sexual abuse
- verbal abuse
- psychological or emotional abuse
- social abuse
- neglect
- financial exploitation
- other type of abuse.
Maximum penalty for not reporting is more than $20,000
Child Protection Agency contact details
Department of Territories Families, Housing and Communities
Child Protection Reporting Line: 1800 700 250
Reporting to Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT
incidentsandcomplaints@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
1300 447 548
Queensland
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in Queensland are required to report information to Queensland Police if they:
- reasonably believe a child is being or has been the victim of sexual abuse by another adult,
- should reasonably believe that a child is being or has been the victim of sexual abuse by another adult
unless they have a reasonable excuse
A child sexual offence is an offence of a sexual nature committed against a child and includes:
- indecent treatment of a child
- carnal knowledge with or of a child
- rape
- incest
- grooming of a child (or their parent or carer)
- making child exploitation material
- maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.
Maximum penalty for failing to report belief of a child sexual offence is 3 years imprisonment.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Child Safety Services
During business hours telephone the Regional Intake Service Central Intake Team for your Region (during business hours):
Brisbane and Moreton Bay: 1300 682 254
Far North Queensland: 1300 684 062
North Queensland: 1300 706 147
South East: 1300 679 849
South West (Darling Downs – Toowoomba): 1300 683 390
South West (West Moreton – Ipswich): 1800 316 855
Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland: 1300 703 762
To report a concern out of business hours, telephone the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135.
Reporting to Girl Guides Queensland
incidentsandcomplaints@guidesqld.org
Phone: (07) 3357 1266
South Australia
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in South Australia are required to report information to SA Police if they believe, on reasonable grounds, that a child:
- has suffered or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation;
- aged less than 14 years has been or is likely to be a victim of a sexual offence
A report is required when a reasonable belief that a child has suffered or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation; or where a child aged less than 14 years has been or is likely to be a victim of a sexual offence.
The penalty for not reporting is a fine of 200 penalty points for each offence.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Department of Child Protection
Child Abuse Report Line (CARL): on 13 14 78
Reporting to Girl Guides South Australia
incidentsandcomplaints@girlguidessa.org.au
(08) 8418 0900
Tasmania
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in the Tasmania are required to report information to Tas Police if they reasonably believe that an ‘abuse offence’ has been committed against a child.
There are a wide range of offences including:
- sexual abuse
- child exploitation
- forms of physical abuse including female genital mutilation
- stalking, bullying abduction.
A specific penalty is not stated. However where it is not stated the maximum sentence for any crime in Tasmania is a period of imprisonment for 21 years or a fine, or both.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Child Safety Service
Advice and Referral Line: 1800 000 123 or via an online contact form.
Reporting to Girl Guides Tasmania
incidentsandcomplaints@guidestas.org.au
(03) 6244 4408
Victoria
What must be reported to the police?
All adults in Vic are required to report information to Vic Police if they have information that leads them to form a ‘reasonable belief’ that another adult has sexually offended against a child under 16 in Victoria. A child sexual offence is an offence of a sexual nature committed against a child and includes:
- indecent treatment of a child
- carnal knowledge with or of a child
- rape
- incest
- grooming of a child (or their parent or carer)
- making child exploitation material
- maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Victorian Child Protection Service
Monday to Friday, 8.45am – 5pm telephone:
North Division: 1300 598 521
South Division: 1300 555 526
East Division: 1300 360 452
West Division: 1300 360 462
If you are not sure which number to call, check the page below for details on the areas covered by each service:
https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-protection-contacts
For after-hours Child Protection Emergency Service telephone:13 12 78.
Reporting to Girl Guides Victoria
incidentsandcomplaints@guidesvic.org.au
(03) 8606 3500
Western Australia
What must be reported to the police?
In Western Australia the law places a duty only on persons with the care and control of a child to do an act, or fail to do an act, knowing (or recklessly disregarding) that the conduct may cause significant harm to a child from abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or psychological) or neglect.
There are a wide range of harms a person must protect a child in their care:
- sexual abuse
- physical abuse
- emotional abuse
- neglect
Maximum penalty for not reporting is a term of imprisonment of five years.
Child Protection Agency contact details
Department for Child Protection
During business hours telephone the Central Intake Team: 1800 273 889 or email cpduty@communities.wa.gov.au.
Reporting to Girl Guides Western Australia
incidentsandcomplaints@girlguideswa.org.au
(08) 9479 9800
Last Modified: 09/05/24 at 3:47 PM