Mandatory Reporting Requirements Under The Children, Young Persons And Their Families Act 1997

This Act legally requires members of certain professions within the community to report concerns, or suspected abuse or neglect of children to Child Protection Services, or to a Gateway Service. For example, all employees within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and Catholic Education Tasmania are mandated to report their knowledge, belief or suspicion that a child has suffered, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; workers are legally obligated to report and may be held accountable if they fail to do so, which overrides any confidentiality and privacy requirements that may otherwise govern behaviour in this regard. Staff, therefore, are obliged to make notifications, usually through the principal, of any concern observed or communicated to them - staff do not investigate, nor interrogate.