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Child Protection and Child Safe Standards (PROTECT)

Information and advice on how to protect children, create a child safe environment, identify and report signs of abuse.

New Child Safe StandardsExternal Link are now in effect.

Identify child abuse

As a school staff member, it is critical to be able to recognise the physical or behavioural signs of child abuse.

Your reporting and legal obligations

Information on your reporting and legal obligations for suspected child abuse within or outside of school grounds.

Report child abuse in schools

Information on the Four Critical Actions you must take, and guidance for schools to meet their obligations.

Identify and respond to student sexual offending

Guidance for all Victorian school staff on what action to take if you suspect, or are witness to student sexual offending.

Child sexual exploitation and grooming

Guidance for school staff on how to spot the signs of sexual exploitation and how to respond.

Child protection privacy and information sharing

As a school staff member you are permitted to share certain information about a child who has been impacted by abuse. This page provides guidance on the specific information sharing requirements.

Responding to other concerns about the wellbeing of a child

This section will support you to determine how to respond to concerns about the wellbeing of a child which do not appear to be the result of child abuse.

Online learning for schools

Information about 'Protecting Children' e-learning modules to assist staff in both government and non-government schools to understand their mandatory reporting and other legal obligations.

The Child Safe Standards - Early childhood services

Advice for implementing the Child Safe Standards in early childhood services.

Reviewed 06 April 2023

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