Mandatory Reporting in Child Abuse

Running head: MANDATORY REPORTING IN CHILD ABUSE
Mandatory Reporting in Child Abuse
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MANDATORY REPORTING IN CHILD ABUSE
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Mandatory Reporting in child abuse and Code of Ethics..........................................................3
Requirements of the Mandatory Reporting................................................................................4
WHO and the rights of the child................................................................................................5
Principles in ethical code in case of child abuse........................................................................5
Principles of the mandatory reporting procedures.....................................................................6
Courses of the Action.................................................................................................................6
Chosen Action............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Mandatory reporting refers to legislative requirement in relation to the selected
classes of the people for reporting regarding any cases of the suspected child abuse. It
stipulates that the people should report about any cases of the neglect to that of the
government authorities. The Parliaments within the framework of the Australian states along
with the territories have to enact the laws in relation to the mandatory reporting. It is
indicative of legal requirement in relation to certain kinds of the professional groups of
reporting the reasonable belief pertaining to the physical or the sexual abuse to that of the
child protection authorities (Dcp.wa.gov.au., 2019). The reporting should be done at the time
of practising of the profession in the event of perceiving any kind of significant threat to the
health of the children. This report discusses regarding the code of the ethics in relation to
mandatory reporting and compares the requirement of the mandatory reporting of the
Western Australia with that of the other states. It elaborates on requirements of the World
Health Organization (WHO) pertaining to mandatory reporting and rights of children within
Western Australia. This report talks about the principles of the mandatory reporting
procedures and the courses of the action that can be adopted in the case of any kind of
incidence of the child abuse.
Mandatory Reporting in child abuse and Code of Ethics
Mandatory reporting helps in reporting about the cases of the child sexual abuse so
that it can offer protection to the children. The reporters do not need any kind of proof in
relation to the abuse for making the mandatory report. The mandatory reporters have to form
a belief on the basis of the reasonable grounds for carrying out the process of reporting. The
professionals make the report on the basis of which the police of the Western Australia would
carry out necessary investigation. The reporters should refer to the internal process of the

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organization before carrying out the process of the mandatory report to that of Department for
Child Protection (Childprotectioncareers.wa.gov.au., 2019). The mandatory reporting have to
specify grounds on the basis of which the impression has been formed that the child is being
sexually abused.
There exist the code of the ethics in relation to the incidence of the mandatory
reporting. The professional workers have the ethical responsibilities to children along with
the families so that it can promote the well-being of the children. They have to protect the
children who are experiencing the abuse that can lend the support to the vulnerable families.
The social workers should promote the policies along with the practices which can uphold the
rights of the human being (Ccyp.wa.gov.au., 2019). It can help in ensuring the access and the
equity of the people so that they can have a dignified position in the society.
Requirements of the Mandatory Reporting
Northern Territory along with the South Australia refer to the only jurisdictions which
requires the ministers of the religion to report regarding any cases of the child sexual abuse.
The similar kind of the laws have been passed within Australian Capital Territory Parliament
and the similar kind of the proposal have been introduced within Tasmanian Parliament. The
laws of the mandatory reporting can be said to apply to the doctors, nurses, police along with
the school boarding supervisors. In the event of failing to report regarding any cases of the
crime they would have to face a fine of $ 6000 in Western Australia (WA). The government
of Mc Gowan have taken recourse to the steps that can help in the creation of the safer
Western Australia for that of the children. There exist the five jurisdictions (ACT, WA, NT,
Tas and SA) who have to apply reporting duty to the suspected cases of the sexual abuse and
it does not necessitate that reporter should exercise any kind of the discretion regarding extent
of the harm which have been caused (Communities.wa.gov.au., 2019). There are three other
jurisdictions (NSW, Qld and Vic) where practical application of duty of reporting the sexual

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abuse results in the reports of that of the suspected sexual abuse. It arises on account of the
fact that sexual abuse is supposed to create the suspicion of the significant harm.
WHO and the rights of the child
World Health Organization (WHO) have defined child protection as the measures that
are taken after the occurrence of the maltreatment of the children. The child maltreatment
prevention helps in preventing the maltreatment of the children as it helps in addressing
underlying causes of the abuse (Ho, Gross & Bettencourt, 2017). It can be stated to be a
global problem which are manifested in various kinds of forms and which are deeply rooted
within the cultures. The children who live in Western Australia have the right of leading a
safe and a healthy life. All the individuals who are living within the boundaries of WA which
includes the family, carers, young people, children along with the broader community have to
work together so that the rights of the people can be delivered (Lynne et al., 2015). The
children have the right of being treated in a fair and the humane manner so that they can act
as a positive force within the wider society. The collective efforts have to be undertaken that
can help the children in leading a normal life.
Principles in ethical code in case of child abuse
The neglecting of the children who is of 13 years of age amounts to the violation of
the rights of the child and it can pave the path for the mental repairmen of the children. The
client is involved in neglecting the child and it goes against the ethical principles that has
been mandated by the law. The principle of the child protection is being violated in this case
that can prove to be harmful for the all-round development of the children. The children can
be said to be a valuable and the vulnerable members of the society and they have to be
offered protection from any kind of the harm (Mathews, Lee & Norman, 2016). The
principles which underpin mandatory reporting in relation to child sexual abuse within the

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framework of the Western Australia is that the children have the right of being heard and
being believed. The child abuse has an adverse effect on the society and the early detection
can help in the reduction of the child sexual abuse within community.
Principles of the mandatory reporting procedures
The principle of the mandatory reporting procedure that have to be abided by in case
of dealing with the child is that it should serve the interests of the child. It should safeguard
the privacy of the children and offer them protection from all kinds of harms. It should have
the capability of making the children feel secure that can help in the maintenance of his
mental equilibrium. There are strict principles in relation to the mandatory reporting within
the framework of Western Australia. The safety of the children is the primary consideration
that helps in driving the process of the mandatory reporting (Mathews & Bross, 2015). The
child was being emotionally abused by his family and the mandatory reporting should be able
to address this aspect that can help in the healthy development of the children. The children
should be offered protection from all kinds of the psychological harm that can have a
detrimental effect on their growth and the development (Kenny & Abreu, 2016). The
inflicting of the psychological abuse can be said to be offensive for an individual and the
mandatory reporting can help the children in getting rid of this problem that can aid in the
process of his assimilation in the wider society. The child is not allowed to make the
connection with the other acquaintances that have a bad effect on the mental development of
the child.
Courses of the Action
The system of the mandatory reporting should adopt the non-maleficence which
inflicts least possible harm so that the beneficial outcome is reached. The community worker
should contact the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) who would

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investigate the concerns in relation to the child abuse within the framework of Western
Australia. They are entrusted with the task of supplying the feedback letter to that of reporter
that can help in understanding the gravity of the problem. The community worker along with
the Duty Officer of local CPFS can be engaged in the consultative role that can help in the
alleviation of the misery in the life of the child (Talsma, Bengtsson Boström & Östberg,
2015). The child should be interviewed that can help in understanding the condition of the
child. There should be due consideration of the family of the child and their privacy should
be protected by taking recourse to the policy of nonmaleficence (Tonmyr et al., 2018). The
harmful effects should be considered that can help in the arena of ethical decision making in
the case. It can help in the process of weighing the best outcome that can have a good effect
on the process of the counselling.
The child protection workers within Western Australia have to provide the invaluable
service to the children, families along with the communities. They are responsible for
attending to the serious concerns that can help in ensuring the safety of the children. The
young people have to be offered protection on the basis of Children and Community Services
Act 2004 (Kuruppu, Forsdike & Hegarty, 2018). They can make the recommendations
pertaining to care along with management of the children. They can make the report in
relation to the child neglect that can help in taking the legal action in relation to the case. The
report can focus on ongoing development of the children that can help in ensuring the well-
being of the children within community. The community worker can work in a collaborative
manner with the agencies that can help in meeting the complex needs of the children.
Chosen Action
The action that can be adopted in the case of the child abuse pertains to making the
contact with the CPFS that can prove to be helpful in solving the problem of the family. The
mandatory reporting is required by the law and taking the help of the agency can help in

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preventing any kind of conflict that may arise in the case. The consultation can help the
community worker in the maintenance of the professional relationship with the client that can
help in resolving any kind of complications which may arise in the case (Mathews, Lee &
Norman, 2016). It can help the family of the child in taking the responsibility that can help in
the prevention of these kinds of incidents in the future. It can help in safeguarding the privacy
of the child along with that of his family that can help the family in overcoming the problem
quickly. It can help the family in taking the steps in the right direction that can help in the
alleviation of the problem.
Conclusion
Mandatory reporting reports cases pertaining to child sexual abuse which can help in
providing protection to children. The reporters are not necessitated to have any proof
pertaining to abuse for the production of mandatory report. Mandatory reporters have to form
perception based on reasonable grounds that can carry process of the reporting. The reporters
do not have to maintain discretion within Western Australia pertaining to the harm that have
been caused. Mandatory reporting procedure mandates that due attention should be laid on
interests of child that can help the situation in getting over the crisis in life. Privacy of
children should be protected that can help them in overcoming the problem in life. The policy
of non-maleficence can be adopted that can help in attaining the best outcome for the child
along with his family. Department for Child Protection and Family Support can be contacted
by the community worker that can help in the investigation of the concerns pertaining to child
abuse.

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References
Ccyp.wa.gov.au. (2019). Child protection | Commissioner for Children and Young People
WA. Retrieved 27 December 2019, from
https://www.ccyp.wa.gov.au/our-work/resources/child-protection/
Childprotectioncareers.wa.gov.au. (2019). Child Protection Worker | Perth and Western
Australia. Retrieved 27 December 2019, from
https://childprotectioncareers.wa.gov.au/our-roles/child-protection-worker
Communities.wa.gov.au. (2019). Child Protection and Family Support | Department of
Communities. Retrieved 27 December 2019, from
https://www.communities.wa.gov.au/services/child-protection-and-family-support/
Dcp.wa.gov.au. (2019). Department for Child Protection - Western Australia - Child abuse
and neglect. Retrieved 27 December 2019, from
https://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/ChildProtection/ChildAbuseAndNeglect/Pages/
Childabuseandneglect.aspx
Ho, G. W., Gross, D. A., & Bettencourt, A. (2017). Universal mandatory reporting policies
and the odds of identifying child physical abuse. American journal of public
health, 107(5), 709-716.
Kenny, M. C., & Abreu, R. L. (2016). Mandatory reporting of child maltreatment for
counselors: An innovative training program. Journal of Child and Adolescent
Counseling, 2(2), 112-124.
Kuruppu, J., Forsdike, K., & Hegarty, K. (2018). 'It's a necessary evil': experiences and
perceptions of mandatory reporting of child abuse in Victorian general
practice. Australian journal of general practice, 47(10), 729.

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Lynne, E. G., Gifford, E. J., Evans, K. E., & Rosch, J. B. (2015). Barriers to Reporting Child
Maltreatment Do Emergency Medical Services Professionals Fully Understand Their
Role as Mandatory Reporters?. North Carolina medical journal, 76(1), 13-18.
Mathews, B., & Bross, D. C. (Eds.). (2015). Mandatory reporting laws and the identification
of severe child abuse and neglect (Vol. 4). New York, NY: Springer.
Mathews, B., Lee, X. J., & Norman, R. E. (2016). Impact of a new mandatory reporting law
on reporting and identification of child sexual abuse: a seven year time trend
analysis. Child Abuse & Neglect, 56, 62-79.
Talsma, M., Bengtsson Boström, K., & Östberg, A. L. (2015). Facing suspected child abuse–
what keeps Swedish general practitioners from reporting to child protective
services?. Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 33(1), 21-26.
Tonmyr, L., Mathews, B., Shields, M. E., Hovdestad, W. E., & Afifi, T. O. (2018). Does
mandatory reporting legislation increase contact with child protection?–a legal
doctrinal review and an analytical examination. BMC public health, 18(1), 1021.