The Department of Education has updated guidance and resources now available on the PROTECT for early childhood website to support early childhood services to identify and respond to child abuse risks and report concerns.
These resources respond to the Rapid Child Safety Review, which recommended updated guidance to help early childhood staff report concerns, allegations and complaints and support a speak-up culture.
Updated guidance
The updated PROTECT guidance includes:
- updated 4 Critical Actions: Identify, Report, Support and Refer
- information following the 4 Critical Actions for 3 sources of child abuse:
- adult engaged by an early childhood service
- within the family
- within the community
- new downloadable reference sheets and pamphlets for the 4 Critical Actions, tailored to each source of abuse
- information on notifying the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority and reporting to the Social Services Regulator, including how to make anonymous reports
- updated information about supports available to early childhood services, families and children, including through The Orange Door for abuse in the family.
Action required
Services can replace the existing ‘Four critical actions for early childhood services’ poster with the updated resources. You can access, download and print the resources for your service on the PROTECT for early childhood website.
Services are encouraged to share the resources with staff and display the posters in an appropriate area that is easily accessible to staff.
Find out more
For more information, refer to the PROTECT for early childhood website.
Updated