In Victoria, or are meaning that most intakes will be We requested only data on notifications of child VIC ‘reports’ ‘intakes’ ‘caller-defined’ initially classified as However, Victoria adopts a more stringent abuse and neglect. Because of the approach ‘notifications’. approach to this than in Tasmania and the ACT. Intakes are recorded as taken in Victoria to defining we ‘notifications’, when the reporter either expresses significant concern for the received this data, but it will reflect an inflated ‘notifications’ wellbeing of a child, or believes that a child is in need of protection. This may have number of initial notifications. the effect, relative to other jurisdictions which do not employ this approach, of We did not request data on reports made under somewhat inflating the number of ‘notifications’. Victoria’s differential response system The agency then determines whether the has sufficient information to (ChildFIRST) as the study is focused on reports of ‘notification’ require an investigation. child abuse and neglect of a higher level of seriousness. NSW In NSW, all initial or are first screened by the agency to determine if We requested only data on notifications of child ‘reports’ ‘intakes’ they meet the threshold of of significant harm’. These reports are the NSW abuse and neglect. ‘risk those that do not meet the threshold are classed as concern ‘notifications’; ‘child We did not request data on reports made under reports’. New South Wales’s differential response system Hence, or are the child protection agency (child wellbeing units) as the study is focused on ‘reports’ ‘intakes’ ‘agency-defined’: determines at intake whether the intake is a child concern report or a child reports of child abuse and neglect of a higher protection notification. level of seriousness. The agency then determines whether the has sufficient information to We were provided only with data on reports of ‘notification’ require an investigation. significant harm for 2010-2012, and earlier summary tables showing partial data on reports of significant harm. NT In the Northern Territory, or are the child We requested and obtained only data on ‘reports’ ‘intakes’ ‘agency-defined’: ‘reports protection agency determines at intake whether the intake is a child concern report of child abuse and neglect’ and therefore or a child protection notification. obtained data on notifications. The agency then determines whether the has sufficient information to ‘notification’ require an investigation.
VIC In Victoria, ‘reports’ or ‘intakes’ are ‘caller-defined’ meaning that most intakes will be initially classified as ‘notifications’. However, Victoria adopts a more stringent approach to this than in Tasmania and the ACT. Intakes are recorded as ‘notifications’ when the reporter either expresses significant concern for the wellbeing of a child, or believes that a child is in need of protection. This may have the effect, relative to other jurisdictions which do not employ this approach, of somewhat inflating the number of ‘notifications’. The agency then determines whether the ‘notification’ has sufficient information to require an investigation. We requested only data on notifications of child abuse and neglect. Because of the approach taken in Victoria to defining ‘notifications’, we received this data, but it will reflect an inflated number of initial notifications. We did not request data on reports made under Victoria’s differential response system (ChildFIRST) as the study is focused on reports of child abuse and neglect of a higher level of seriousness. NSW In NSW, all initial ‘reports’ or ‘intakes’ are first screened by the agency to determine if they meet the threshold of ‘risk of significant harm’. These reports are the NSW ‘notifications’; those that do not meet the threshold are classed as ‘child concern reports’. Hence, ‘reports’ or ‘intakes’ are ‘agency-defined’: the child protection agency determines at intake whether the intake is a child concern report or a child protection notification. The agency then determines whether the ‘notification’ has sufficient information to require an investigation. We requested only data on notifications of child abuse and neglect. We did not request data on reports made under New South Wales’s differential response system (child wellbeing units) as the study is focused on reports of child abuse and neglect of a higher level of seriousness. We were provided only with data on reports of significant harm for 2010-2012, and earlier summary tables showing partial data on reports of significant harm. NT In the Northern Territory, ‘reports’ or ‘intakes’ are ‘agency-defined’: the child protection agency determines at intake whether the intake is a child concern report or a child protection notification. The agency then determines whether the ‘notification’ has sufficient information to require an investigation. We requested and obtained only data on ‘reports of child abuse and neglect’ and therefore obtained data on notifications.
child-abuse-and-neglect-v3-nsw.docx