This page is current as of 1 October 2017.
This page outlines the regulatory requirements for approved providers to notify the Department of Education and Training (the Department), as the Regulatory Authority, of incidents and any circumstances or complaints alleging the health, safety or wellbeing of a child has, or is, being compromised.
The notification requirements are outlined in the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National Law) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations).
The following table provides an outline of these notification requirements:
| Section 174(2)(a) | Serious incident | In writing within 24 hours of the incident or the time the person becomes aware of the incident |
| Section 174(2)(b) |
Complaints alleging that the safety, health or wellbeing of a child or children was or is being compromised, while being educated and cared for by the approved education and care service, or that the National Law has been contravened In writing within 24 hours of the complaint | In writing within 24 hours of the complaint |
Section 174(2)(c)
Regulation 175(2)(c) |
Circumstance at the service that poses a risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of a child or children attending the service. Incidents where the approved provider reasonably believes that physical abuse or sexual abuse of a child or children has occurred or is occurring while the child is or the children are being educated and cared for by the education and care service | Within 7 days of the relevant event or within 7 days of the approved provider becoming aware of the relevant information |
Serious incidents
A serious incident includes (defined in regulation 12):
- the death of a child while being educated and cared for by the education and care service or following an incident while being educated and cared for by an education and care service
- any incident involving serious injury or trauma to, or illness of, a child while being educated and cared for by a service which a reasonable person would consider required urgent medical attention from a registered medical practitioner; or for which the child attended, or ought reasonably to have attended, a hospital
- any incident where the attendance of emergency services at the service premises was sought, or ought reasonably to have been sought
- any circumstance where a child being educated and cared for by the service:
- appears to be missing or cannot be accounted for
- appears to have been taken or removed from the service premises in a manner that contravenes the National Regulations
- is mistakenly locked in or out of the service premises or any part of the premises.
Notifying the Department of an incident or complaint
Notifications to the Department should be submitted online via the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS).
For more information, see: Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority
Complaints
An approved provider must notify the Department of any complaints alleging that:
- the safety, health or wellbeing of a child or children was or is being compromised while being educated and cared for by the approved education and care service; or
- the National Law and/or National Regulations have been contravened.
Direct complaints can also be made to the Department by anyone other than the approved provider.
Circumstances that pose a risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of a child
There are specific circumstances that the approved provider must notify the Department of, including:
- occurrences of problem sexual behaviour between children ;
- where children are being, or may be at risk of being subjected to, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including instances where children are observed displaying concerning behaviour that may indicate they are being subjected to abuse;
- occurrence of inappropriate discipline (section 166);
- where the service premises is in a state of disrepair or there has been a natural disaster, such as flooding, which has damaged the premises in such a way that it poses a risk to children.
Notifications to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Child Protection and/or Victoria Police
Incidents and allegations of physical and sexual abuse
Approved providers must report incidents and allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a child that occurs at the service to the Department (regulation 175(2)(d) and 175(2)(e)). Incidents or allegations of abuse occurring within the service itself are considered criminal offences and must be reported to Victoria Police – Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT). This can include a notification/complaint alleging that a staff member has hit or sexually assaulted a child while the child is being educated and cared for by an education and care service.
Approved providers of education and care services currently subject to the reportable conduct scheme are required to notify the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) about notifications and complaints alleging abuse occurring within the service. Those services not currently in scope will be required to notify CCYP from 1 January 2019.
The following table provides an outline of instances where Victoria Police and/or DHHS Child Protection may need to be notified:
| DHHS Child Protection | Victoria Police |
| Problem sexual behaviour between children under 10 years of age | N/A | ✔ | |
| Problem sexual behaviour between or involving children 10 years of age or older | N/A | ✔ | ✔ |
| Allegations of physical or sexual assault/abuse of child | Parent of the child | ✔ | ✔ |
| Allegations of physical or sexual assault/abuse of child | Staff members or adults (including other parents) | | ✔ |
Allegations of physical or sexual assault/abuse of child | Person under 18 years of age | ✔ | ✔
(if allegation against child 10 years or over) |
Family day care educator requirements
Family day care educators must notify their approved provider of:
- a serious incident
- any complaint alleging a serious incident has occurred or is occurring at the service
- any complaint alleging the National Law or National Regulations have been contravened.
There are no legislated timeframes for educators to notify approved providers; however approved providers must comply with timeframes to notify the Department.
Investigation of incidents or complaints
The Department may investigate notifications of incidents or complaints.
There are some instances where a detailed investigation may not be required, such as where:
- there is minimal or no impact on the safety, health and wellbeing of a child or children being educated and cared for by the service
- there has not been a contravention of the National Law and/or National Regulations.
In these instances the notification will be recorded against the service record and no further action taken.
Examples of notifications which may not be investigated by the Department include where:
routine medical attention is provided by a qualified staff member for a small cut after a child trips over their own feet. Parents are appropriately notified of the injury
medical attention is provided by a registered medical practitioner after a child known to have epilepsy has an epileptic seizure. Parents of the child are notified, management plans followed and relevant authorisations are in place
emergency services are called to the service following an altercation between parents of children who attend the service, at the service.
Resources
- The Department of Education and Training:
Contacts
For child protection contacts, see:
Department of Human Services
For Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team contacts, see:
Victorian Police