Child protection education resources for health workers

Health workers are often involved in providing services to children, young people and adults who have parental/carer responsibilities in relation to children and young people. We have a legislative responsibility to protect children.

Reporting

All health professionals are expected to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to child protection and the legal framework (the Child Protection Act 1999) for sharing information about child protection concerns.

Child protection: staff orientation resources

All newly employed health professionals should be provided with introductory information on child protection and the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect.

Include a broad overview of child protection as a mandatory component in clinical induction programs.

Familiarise staff with the relevant legislation:

• Child Protection Act (1999)
• Child Protection Regulation (2023)

Amendments to the Child Protection Act 1999 came into effect in January 2015.

• Introduction to the Child Protection Act 1999 (Video)
• Mandatory Reporting on Child Protection (Video)

The Child Protection Guide—an online tool to support professionals, such as teachers, doctors and nurses, child care workers and others working with children and families, in deciding where to refer or report concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing. This guide includes:

• Procedures manual
• Child protection guide online training module

Education module: understanding child abuse and neglect

Education is available to health professionals to increase knowledge of an individual’s roles and responsibilities in recognising, reporting and responding to child abuse and neglect

Download the Child Abuse and Neglect Education Module (PDF 1.39MB)

Reporting child abuse

Find forms and processes for reporting child abuse.

Referral (Family and Child Connect)

If your concerns don’t reach the threshold for a report to Child Safety Services and the family has multiple or complex needs and would benefit from support services or you believe further identification of the family’s needs is required; then obtain the families consent and refer to Family and Child Connect (FaCC).

Family and Child Connect is a local, community-based service that helps families to care for and protect their children at home, by connecting them to the right services at the right time.

Find a local Family and Child Connect office

Evolve Therapeutic Services Resources

Evolve Therapeutic Services (ETS) was established in 2005 as a tertiary level mental health intervention service to address severe and complex mental health therapeutic needs of children/young people with a care experience (out-of-home) within Queensland. More specifically, ETS provides specialist intensive trauma-informed mental health interventions for children/young people:

• subject to an interim or finalised child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the Chief Executive of the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (DCSSDS)
• on an Intervention with Parental Agreement and subject to a child protection care agreement, or
• Support Service Case.

Referrals to ETS can only be made by DCSSDS. If a referral is unable to be accepted, recommendations are provided to DCSSDS regarding appropriate alternative service options.

ETS Statewide Factsheet (PDF 130kB)

Consumer resources:

• ETS Nurturing Protective and Positive Childhood Experiences Framework and Resources
  • ETS Nurturing Protective and Positive Childhood Experiences Framework Poster
  • ETS Nurturing Protective and Positive Childhood Experiences Framework – Core Aims
  • Tips for Nurturing Protective and Positive Childhood Experiences
  • ETS Nurturing Protective and Positive Childhood Experiences Worksheet
• Developmental/Complex Trauma Factsheets and Activities
  • ETS Developmental/Complex Trauma factsheet
  • ETS Some Difficulties Following Trauma: The impact of complex trauma across different domains factsheet
  • ETS Some Difficulties Following Trauma: The impact of complex trauma across different domains – Card activity
• Caveman Series
  • ETS Statewide Caveman Series Guide
  • Caveman Gets a Brain
  • Caveman Learns to Think
  • Thinker Takes Charge
  • Welcome to the Stress Express
• Caveman Series Factsheets/Posters
  • Caveman – Our stress response
  • Caveman – Our stress alarm system
  • Caveman – Calming the alarm system
  • Caveman – Calming the caveman brain
  • Your Brilliant Brain
• Harmful Sexual Behaviour:
  • Joint ETS and DSCSDS ‘Developmental and Harmful Sexual Behaviour Continuum at a Glance’ resource
  • Murky Waters Overview Posters - updated
  • What to do if when you observe harmful sexual behaviours
  • Sexual abuse - harmful sexual behaviours Disclosures do’s and don’ts
  • Harmful Sexual Behaviours – Support and Supervision Plan ideas
  • Become a needs detective A3 poster
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources:
  • ETS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Domains, Contributing / Risk and Protective Factors
  • ETS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing Cards Guide
  • ETS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing Cards
  • ETS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB): Possible Protective Factors
  • ETS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB): Possible Protective Factors Activity and Plan
• Feeling Better Initiative:
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
• Infant Mental Health (IMH):
  • ETS IMH Practice Framework Contextualising Document
  • ETS IMH Core Skills
• Professional Development:
  • ETS Foundations to Attachment (iLearn)
  • Access to recorded ETS training workshops
• Workplace/Individual Wellbeing
  • Vicarious Trauma - Surviving, Thriving & Reviving Poster

Further information

• Protecting Children (Queensland Department of Communities)
• Queensland Family and Child Commission