Reporting child abuse is the first step in helping children, young people and families who experience abuse and neglect.
The 4 R’s of child safety offer a guide for how to report child abuse:
- Recognise: Identify signs of abuse or potential risks to a child’s welfare.
- Record: Document all observations and disclosures thoroughly and confidentially (who, what, when, where).
- Respond: Stay calm, assess immediate danger, listen, and follow established policies and procedures
- Refer: Escalate the concern to the appropriate authorities (like police or child protection services) or relevant support services.
If a child’s or young person’s immediate safety is compromised or they are in immediate risk of danger or harm, please call the Police on 000 (triple zero)
If you believe a child or young person is in need of protection, contact Child Protection on 1300 360 452 or 13 12 78 after hours.
Concerns about Staff Misconduct at Colac Area Health
If you have concerns about the safety, wellbeing or conduct involving a child or young person at Colac Area Health, we encourage you to report it.
This includes concerns about the behaviour of a staff member, volunteer, contractor, or anyone working in at Colac Area Health or online.
Contact Colac Area Health
You can report a concern by contacting us: (call it out colac)
- Website: Colac Area Health – Report a Child Safety Concern Relating to a Staff Member
- Phone: 03 5232 5100 (ask to speak with the People & Culture Business Partner)
If you require language support, you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450.
Your concern/complaint will be acknowledged within the first business day following receipt, you will be advised of next steps, and who will be handling your complaint. Colac Area Health will provide regular weekly updates and will aim to have internal findings completed within 30 days.
Colac Area Health must notify the Social Service Regulator within 3 business days of becoming aware of a reportable allegation involving a worker or volunteer.
Report to an External Authority
You can also report concerns directly to the Social Services Regulator (SSR), the independent regulator responsible for overseeing the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme in Victoria.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme applies to allegations of child abuse involving employees, volunteers, or contractors.
You can contact the Social Services Regulator via:
- Online: https://www.vic.gov.au/social-services-regulator
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1800 549 646
All concerns and reports are taken seriously and handled in line with our legal obligations under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Where there is an immediate risk to a child or young person, please call 000.
We support and protect anyone who raises a concern in good faith. Your report can be made confidentially.
Feedback and Complaints
If your concern relates to general feedback or complaints (not specifically about child safety conduct), please visit Consumer Feedback – Colac Area Health
This includes:
- A complaint about a Colac Area Health service, program or event
- A complaint about how a previous concern or report was handled
- Concerns about the behaviour of a child or young person at a Colac Area Health service, program or event
- General concerns
We encourage children, young people, and their families to raise any child safety concerns with us. Anyone can report child safety concerns to us in these ways:
- In person: Visit Colac Area Health, 2-28 Connor Street, Colac
- Phone: Call Quality and Safety Team on (03) 5232 5100
- Email: [email protected]
