Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes

Chapter 8 — Proactively sharing information under the Information Sharing Schemes

A school may share information with another Information Sharing Entity without a request from that Information Sharing Entity if the information they are sharing meets the three-part threshold test for the Child Information Sharing Scheme or the three requirements for sharing under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme.

If a school is proactively sharing under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme for a student under the age of 18 they will also be sharing under the Child Information Sharing Scheme, as the management of family violence risk will also benefit the student’s, or group of students’ wellbeing and safety. When sharing information under both Information Sharing Schemes schools need to meet the three-part threshold test for the parts of the information that are being shared to promote child wellbeing or safety (the Child Information Sharing Scheme), and the three requirements for the information being shared to assess or manage family violence risk (the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme).

For a template for proactively sharing information refer to: Template for making or responding to a request and proactively sharing information under CISS and/or FVISS (DOCX).

A school may share proactively with an Information Sharing Entity that is also a Risk Assessment Entity for a family violence assessment purpose. Assessment may be to establish if family violence is occurring, determine who the perpetrator is or determine the level risk.

Sharing information proactively with an Information Sharing Entity under the Child Information Sharing Scheme

When schools want to share information proactively with another Information Sharing Entity, the following steps must be taken:

1. Determine the sharing meets the three-part threshold test.
2. Consider the Child Information Sharing Scheme legislative principles before sharing information, including seeking and taking into account the views of the child and/or family member whenever it is safe, appropriate, and reasonable to do so.
3. Verify that the service that will receive the information is an information sharing entity the online ISE List.
4. Contact the Information Sharing Entity and verify their specific requirements for receiving information.
5. Provide the information to the Information Sharing Entity.
6. Document the following:
   • the Information Sharing Entity that received the information
   • date information was shared
   • the information that was shared.
7. For best practice, schools should record:
   • the scheme information was shared under
   • who information is being shared about
   • how the threshold was met.
8. If sharing is about any child, a child’s parent or any third party, schools must also record:
   • whether the school sought their views about sharing their information
   • if their views were not sought, the reason why
   • if they were informed that their information was disclosed.
9. Store the record securely. Take reasonable steps to ensure that records are kept secure and protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised disclosure. The record must also be only accessible with those who have a requirement to access or manage it. Refer to: Records Management — School Records for further information.

Sharing information proactively with an Information Sharing Entity when a child is at risk under Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme

When schools want to share information proactively with another Information Sharing Entity, the following steps are to be taken:

1. Determine the request meets the three requirements for sharing for family violence risk management (protection).
2. Consider the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme legislative principles before sharing information, including seeking and taking into account the views of the child and/or family member who is not a perpetrator where it is appropriate, safe and reasonable to do so.
3. Verify that the service that will receive the information is an information sharing entity via the online ISE List.
4. Contact the Information Sharing Entity and verify their specific requirements for receiving the information.
5. Provide the information to the Information Sharing Entity.
6. Document the following:
   • the Information Sharing Entity information was shared with
   • date when information was shared
   • the information that was shared
   • record who the information was shared with.
7. For best practice, schools should record:
   • the scheme information was shared under
   • who information was being shared about
   • how the sharing requirements were met.
8. Store the record securely. Take reasonable steps to ensure that records are kept secure and protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised disclosure. The record must also be only accessible with those who have a requirement to access or manage it. Refer to: Records Management — School Records for further information.

Sharing information proactively with a Risk Assessment Entity for a family violence risk assessment

When schools want to share information proactively with a Risk Assessment Entity for the purpose of the entity undertaking a family violence risk assessment the following steps must be taken:

1. Determine the sharing meets the three requirements for sharing under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme.
2. Consider the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme legislative principles before sharing information including seeking and taking into account the views of the child and/or family member that is not a perpetrator where it is appropriate, safe and reasonable to do so.
3. Verify that the service that will receive the information is a Risk Assessment Entity via the online ISE List.
4. Contact the Risk Assessment Entity and verify their specific requirements for receiving the information.
5. Provide the information to the Risk Assessment Entity.
6. Document the following:
   • the Risk Assessment Entity the information will be shared with
   • date when information is shared
   • the information that will be shared
   • who the information was shared with.
7. For best practice, schools should record:
   • the scheme information was shared under
   • who information is being shared about
   • how the threshold was met.
8. Store the record securely. Take reasonable steps to ensure that records are kept secure and protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised disclosure. The record must also be only accessible with those who have a requirement to access or manage it. Refer to: Records Management — School Records for further information.