Child protection obligations in early childhood services
There are a range of different schemes and legal obligations that aim to protect children from the risk of harm, abuse and neglect.
These obligations apply to:
- approved providers of early childhood services
- service leadership
- educators and staff
- volunteers
- students on placements.
This page provides links to more detailed information and online training for all early childhood services.
The information applies to all providers and services regulated under the Education and Care Services National Law and the Children’s Services Act 1996.
The Child Safe Standards
The Child Safe Standards (CSS) require organisations involving children to have policies, procedures and practices to keep children safe.
Information and guidance for early childhood services about:
Your legal obligations to protect children
Information about the different legal obligations to protect children including:
- duty of care obligations
- criminal offences – failure to disclose, failure to protect
- obligations under the Education and Care Services National Law and the Children’s Services Act 1996.
Mandatory reporting
All early childhood workers, including approved providers and volunteers are mandatory reporters.
They must make a report to Victoria Police or Child Protection, if:
- in the course of practising their profession or carrying out duties of their office, position or employment
- they form a belief on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse.
Access the free Mandatory Reporting eLearning module.
Reportable conduct
The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires organisations involving children to notify the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) of alleged abuse by workers or volunteers.
Approved providers of early childhood services must respond to allegations of child abuse (and other child-related misconduct) made against their workers and volunteers.
Child information sharing and privacy
There are three inter-related information sharing schemes that allow professionals working with children to share information to:
- promote the wellbeing or safety of children and
- facilitate assessment and management of family violence risk to children and adults.
The three schemes are:
- Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS)
- Family Violence information Sharing Scheme (FVISS)
- Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM).
Free online webinars and eLearning is available at: Training on Information sharing and MARAM reforms.
Problem sexual behaviour
Information for services to help them to differentiate, and respond to problem sexual behaviour in the best interests of the child.
Updated 20 February 2024