Child Abuse (including grooming) – Identification and Response

Resources

4 Critical Actions reference guides

4 Critical Actions reference guides(opens in a new window) are for use in staff areas to provide a quick reference to guidance on the PROTECT website.

• PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse by an adult engaged by a government school, including grooming
• PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for student-to-student abuse
• PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the family
• PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the community

4 Critical Actions posters

4 Critical Actions posters(opens in a new window) can be used in all areas of the school to promote the 4 Critical Actions and to encourage students to speak up if they don’t feel safe.

• PROTECT 4 Critical Actions staff poster
• PROTECT student poster – visual version
• PROTECT student poster – for younger students or lower reading level
• PROTECT student poster – for older students or higher reading level

4 Critical Actions templates

Templates to help you document your actions are available on PROTECT. Refer to Resources for schools(opens in a new window).

Training materials

• Child Safe Standards training presentations(opens in a new window) – for staff, volunteers and school councils
• Protecting children – Mandatory reporting and other obligations e-learning module(opens in a new window) – for school staff to learn how to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This module is available on LearnED which is accessed through eduPay(opens in a new window) (staff login required – type ‘child protection’ into the search function on LearnED)
• Resources to support staff to identify inappropriate staff conduct including grooming. These case studies and conversation starter resources can be used in all-staff or sub-school team meetings, for example, to help staff understand how to identify potential grooming behaviours and the steps they need to take to report concerning behaviours:
  • Child safety case study – staff conduct (secondary school context) (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Child safety case study – staff conduct (primary school context) (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Child safety conversation starter – Child Safety Code of Conduct (PPTX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Child safety conversation starter – professional conduct reminders for early career teachers (PPTX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Child safety case study – potential grooming (DOCX) (staff login required)
  • Recognising grooming behaviours in schools (self-paced quiz) (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
• Other resources to support regular discussion with staff about child safety risks and issues:
  • Child safety conversation starter – child safety risk mitigation (PPTX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window)

Templates

Contextualise this template for your school and add your school contacts. Publish it on your school website.

• Child abuse (including grooming) – identification and response policy and procedures template(opens in a new window) (School Policy Templates Portal – staff login required)

Report abuse if you’re a current or former student

For information for members of the public about how to report abuse to the department, and options and supports available to victim-survivors, refer to: Report abuse if you’re a current or former student(opens in a new window).

For information for former students who experienced child sexual abuse by an adult working in a Victorian government school, refer to: Victim-survivor support for former students(opens in a new window).

Useful department websites

PROTECT(opens in a new window) – provides child safety information for teachers, educators and staff in schools. It's designed to help school staff meet their child safety obligations, identify and respond to child abuse (including grooming) and provide children and families with the right support at the right time. PROTECT includes links to:

• the 4 Critical Actions for each source of abuse
• 4 Critical Actions reference guides for each source of abuse
• staff and student posters
• templates to help schools document their actions
• guidance on implementing the Child Safe Standards in your school.

External websites

• Social Services Regulator(opens in a new window) – an independent statutory authority that safeguards the rights of children and young people as well as people who use social services in Victoria. It regulates the Child Safe Standards and administers the Reportable Conduct Scheme, Working with Children Check scheme and Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme
• Commission for Children and Young People(opens in a new window) – an independent statutory authority that provides independent scrutiny of service systems, including child protection, out-of-home care and youth justice, and promotes improvements in policies and practices that affect Victorian children and young people
• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Professional Reporter and Referrer Information Hub(opens in a new window) – contains essential information about making a report to child protection
• The Orange Door(opens in a new window) – a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children
• Department of Justice and Community Safety(opens in a new window) – provides information on protecting children and families, including details of the failure to disclose offence