An ACT Government Website

Report risk of significant harm to a child

Check what to do before you report child abuse or neglect, find other ways to help a family, and learn how we assess if it's child abuse.

Is the child in danger now?

Call the police on 000

Before you report

Consider how your own culture or upbringing may lead you to make an assumption about the child.

Learn about:

  • signs of significant harm
  • what to do if a child tells you they have been harmed or they are at risk.

To learn more, read Keeping Children and Young People Safe [PDF 876KB]

Talk to the child if you can. You could have a gentle conversation with them to let them know you are worried there may be something wrong.

Speak with the parents if you can. Sometimes offering support or connecting them to help is the best step.

If you still believe there is a risk of significant harm, it’s time to report.

What is risk of significant harm?

A child or young person may be at risk of significant harm (ROSH) if their physical safety, welfare or emotional wellbeing is at serious risk. This might be because of a one-off incident or a pattern or combination of events. This may include:

  • sexual abuse, grooming or exploitation
  • physical or emotional abuse
  • basic physical, emotional, developmental or psychological needs not being met
  • exposure to family violence.

We have more information about these reportable risks.

Sexual abuse, grooming or exploitation

Sexual abuse is when a child or young person has sexual activity or sexual contact with someone who either:

  • has power or authority over them
  • takes advantage of their trust
  • forces them to do something sexual.

This can be in person or online.

For example:

  • inappropriate online or in-person comments
  • physical contact of a sexual nature
  • exposure to adult sexual activity or pornography
  • involvement in adult sexual activity or pornography
  • inappropriate sexual comments.
Physical or emotional abuse

Physical abuse is an injury that was not caused by an accident.  A parent, caregiver or person within the family could have caused the injury.

For example: hitting, shaking, burning, excessive physical discipline, attempted suffocation, throwing against the wall or to the ground.

Emotional abuse occurs when the behaviour of a parent or caregiver damages the confidence and self-esteem of the child or young person. This results in serious emotional disturbance or psychological trauma.

For example: constant yelling, belittling, ignoring, ridiculing, swearing, name calling or withholding affection.

Basic physical, emotional, developmental or psychological needs not being met

When a parent or caregiver does not regularly give a child or young person the basic things they need. This affects their wellbeing or development.

For example: Not regularly providing food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care, adequate supervision, and enough parenting and care.

Exposure to family violence

When a parent or caregiver causes a child or young person to see or know about family violence.

For example: hearing or seeing violence, seeing injuries and property damage. Anything else related to family violence that you believe is significantly harming the child.

Don’t make a report unless there is the risk of significant harm.

An investigation can distress the child or young person and their family.

Reports lead to investigation by either:

  • Children, Youth and Families (child protection or youth justice services)
  • ACT Policing.

An investigation by Children, Youth and Families (child protection or youth justice services) or ACT Policing can be distressing for the child and their families.

Only report when you believe there is a significant risk of harm.

Risk of Significant Harm does not include:

Criminal behaviour

When caregivers engage in criminal activity

Where a child is not involved, aware or affected, these are not child protection matters. Criminal activities include recreational drug use, theft, prostitution or driving offences.  
These issues should be referred to ACT Policing 131 444

Historical sexual abuse

To report sexual abuse that occurred when a person was a child and they are now an adult (over 18) contact either:

ACT Policing 131 444

Historical sexual assault | ACT Policing Online Services

Family drug and alcohol use for recreation

Only report a caregiver’s recreational drug or alcohol use when:

  • it has a known impact on the child
  • they engage in the activities when the child is present
  • it affects their capacity to parent.
Siblings arguing or fighting

This is not an issue to report here, unless the child is harmed and the caregiver is not protective.

A child or young person with a non-suspicious bruise or injury

Don’t report a bruise or injury:

  • if the explanation is consistent with the bruise or injury
  • the explanation raises no concern
  • the child’s behaviour has not noticeably changed
  • if there has been no disclosure raising concern about the bruise or injury.
A child or young person with mental health issues

Child has suicidal ideation or is self-harming

This should not be reported:

  • where there is no suspicion that the caregiver’s behaviour has caused the mental health issue
  • if the caregiver is seeking or engaging support for the child.
Young people experimenting with alcohol, drug use or vaping

If the caregiver is made aware and has responded appropriately, then this is not something to report here.

How to report risk of significant harm

Step 1: Identify the situation

If the risk of significant harm is from someone within the child’s family environment:

If the abuse is by someone outside the family environment:

Step 2: What to include in your report

Tell us as much information as you can about:

  • the child or young person (name, age, address)
  • the parents, caregivers, others living in the home
  • the reasons you suspect risk of significant harm
  • support services you know about for the child, young person or family
  • relevant circumstances (substance abuse, mental health issues, housing)
  • contact details for the family, if you have them.

Do not provide false information. Doing this could lead to fines or imprisonment.

What not to report

Children, Youth and Families is unlikely to investigate:

  • one-off sexualised child play, such as exploration with a similar aged child
  • teenagers engaging in consensual, sexual activity with each other
  • a child who is self-harming when there are parents willing and able to protect them
  • children who have been fighting in the playground
  • children who are upset because their parents are getting divorced
  • a child who is given the same lunch every day at school.

After you report

We will check if your report meets the criteria for risk of significant harm.

If we suspect harm:

  • We will gather additional information from people who know the child, like schools, doctors and others.
  • We may start a formal risk assessment. This might include home visits, school visits, and interviews with the child and family.
  • We may apply for legal protection orders if needed, to ensure the child’s safety.
  • We’ll involve other agencies if we need to.

Possible outcomes include:

  • Support for the family: if there’s no risk, we might still offer help for housing, parenting, or other issues.
  • No further action: if we decide there’s no need for further involvement, we will close the report.

The outcome will not be disclosed and you won’t be told the outcome. We assure you we will act in the child’s best interest.

Help in other ways

You can help a family by connecting them with free support services. This may help if you see issues, but think a significant harm report is not needed.

OneLink

OneLink offers advice on child, youth, and family services, homelessness, legal services, and more.

Visit OneLink

Canberra’s Child and Family Centres

The Child and Family Centres provide free parenting advice and help with family issues and child behaviour.

Learn more about our Child and Family Centres

Learn more

Children, Youth and Family Services