Child protection investigations

The Department of Communities (sometimes called ‘Child Protection’ or 'the Department’) will investigate if someone reports worries about the safety or wellbeing of children.

There can be many different reasons why someone might be worried about your children's welfare, including worries about your children being abused, living in an unsafe home environment, being left unsupervised, or being at risk because of mental health issues. The Department can receive information about children from anyone in the community, including family members, neighbours, teachers, doctors and health workers, or even the children themselves.

After the Department has looked into the worries, it will decide what steps, if any, it needs to take to improve the safety and care of your children. Where possible, the Department will try to work with you and your family to meet the needs of your children.

This information is to help you understand what action the Department can take when investigating worries about your children's care or wellbeing. Find out:

who the Department might speak with
if your child can be interviewed, and
what action the Department can take after investigating a report.

What types of worries does the Department investigate?

The Department investigates all kinds of worries, including allegations of children and young people being:

exposed to family violence, this includes hearing or seeing it or its effects
exposed to drug use
left unsupervised
at risk because of mental health issues.

If you are a parent and a report has been made about your child, the Department may investigate. The Department will want to work with you to fix any worries.

How does the Department investigate worries that have been reported?

The Department officers may interview the child and other family members. Sometimes, the Department may contact professionals who have been involved with the child such as teachers at school, and doctors.

When could I be investigated by the Department of Communities?

If you are a parent and a report has been made about the safety or wellbeing one or more of your children, the Department may investigate.

When is a child or young person considered at risk of harm or neglect?

The Department will consider a child is in need of protection if they have suffered, or are likely to suffer:

physical, sexual or emotional abuse which includes:
- psychological abuse
- being exposed to family violence
neglect, and
the child’s parents have not protected or can’t protect them from that harm.

The Department may also consider a child in need of protection if:

they have been abandoned and the parents can’t be found, or
the parents have died, or are not willing or able to care for their child and no suitable adult family members can be found who are willing or able to care for the child.

Can the Department talk to my child without me being there?

Yes. If the Department is concerned that your child might need protection, a Department officer can talk to your child without you being there. The Department do not have to tell you that they are going to speak to your child.

Will the Department tell me if they have talked to my child?

In most cases the Department must tell you if they have talked to your child. However, they may not tell you in some situations, including if:

telling you may interfere with a criminal police investigation
the Department believes telling you may put your child in danger, or
your child has asked the Department not to tell you and they believe it is in your child's best interests not to tell you.

What does ‘taken into care’ mean?

‘Taken into care’ is a phrase used to describe the legal process of the Department removing a child from the care of a parent or parents.

The Department may take a child into provisional (temporary) protection and care If they believe the child is in need of protection.

If your child is taken into care, this usually this means the Department will organise for them to live with someone else, at least temporarily The Department will also have the power to make the day to day decisions for your child.

What happens after the Department takes my child into care?

After the Department has taken a child into care, it will make a decision about if the child needs ongoing protection.

The Department may decide to do one or more of the following:

take no more action and to return your child to your care
provide you and your child with family support services
carry out more investigations, or
start a protection case in the Children’s Court - If the Department thinks that your child still needs protection and shouldn’t be returned to your care until it is safe enough, or can be returned to your care under supervision by the Department, it may make an application to the Children's Court for a protection order.

If you and the other parent are separated, sometimes the Department may place your child with the other parent if that is a safe option. In this situation a case may be started in the Family Court.

More information

Department of Communities

Concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child

Resources

Blurred Borders Keep em safe fact sheets

Reviewed: 7 September 2022