It is now mandatory for ministers of religion to report child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities’ mandatory reporting service. They are the first of eight new mandatory reporter groups to be introduced following the passing of the Children and Community Services Amendment Act 2021.
As mandatory reporters, ministers of religion now have a legal requirement to report all reasonable beliefs of child sexual abuse to Communities, including child sexual abuse disclosed in religious confession.
Over the next three years, the reporting scheme will be further expanded to include early childhood workers, out-of-home care workers, registered psychologists, school counsellors and youth justice workers. Assessors appointed under section 125A of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 and officers of Communities (referred to as Departmental officers) will also become mandatory reporters.
The expansion is being managed in stages to ensure each group receives the necessary training and support to fulfil their new reporting obligations. To further support this, Communities has developed free mandatory reporting online training to prepare reporter groups for their commencement dates.
These changes, which align to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, will enable Communities and related authorities to respond swiftly and comprehensively to protect a child who has been harmed and to stop it from happening to anyone else.
Any person with concerns about a child’s wellbeing is urged to notify Communities, regardless of whether that person is a mandatory reporter. This enables authorities to assess the circumstances and take action to protect the child and other children where necessary.
For more information and access to the free mandatory reporter online training, visit the Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse in WA webpage.
