Policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure schools understand how to identify and respond to:
- incidents, disclosures or concerns of student-to-student abuse
- harmful sexual behaviour in children under 12.
Summary
- As soon as school staff believe that a student has been, or is at risk of being, abused by another student, they must act by using the 4 Critical Actions for student-to-student .
- School staff must support students who engage in, or are impacted by, harmful sexual behaviour.
- School staff must keep clear and comprehensive notes about incidents, disclosures and concerns of student-to-student abuse or harmful sexual behaviour.
- For support, schools should call:
- DE Incident Support and Operations Centre on 1800 126 126
- their local sexual assault or harmful sexual behaviour .
Details
Student-to-student abuse
School staff may be the only adult in a position to identify student-to-student child abuse.
Student-to-student abuse can take many forms:
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- child sexual exploitation
- emotional or psychological abuse.
There are other ways that a child can experience abuse, including crimes related to change and suppression and exposure to violent extremism. Multiple types of abuse can occur at the same time.
For more information refer to the Guidance tab: Recognising different types of child abuse.
Your school must support all students involved who are enrolled at your school. This includes:
- students who experienced abuse
- students who use violence or engage in behaviour that causes harm
- other students who may be affected.
Supporting these students is an essential part of your duty of care obligations.
Responding to student-to-student abuse: use the 4 Critical Actions
As soon as you believe that a student has been, or is at risk of, being abused by another student, all staff must act.
All staff must use the 4 Critical Actions for student-to-student . The 4 Critical Actions for responding to student-to-student abuse are:
At all times, all staff must also:
PROTECT provides detailed information on identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse. Use the links above to understand all the steps you need to take.
Responding to harmful sexual behaviour: use the 4 Critical Actions
For harmful sexual behaviour, all staff must use the 4 Critical Actions for student-to-student . The 4 Critical Actions for responding to student-to-student abuse are:
At all times, all staff must also:
PROTECT provides detailed information on identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse. Use the links above to understand all the steps you need to take.
Harmful sexual behaviour by students under 12 may not require police involvement because:
- the matter does not meet the threshold for a crime
- the student is under the age of criminal responsibility (12 years)
- Victoria Police have told you that the matter does not require their involvement.
Harmful sexual behaviour in a child does not necessarily indicate that the child has been sexually abused. However if staff form a reasonable belief that the child using harmful sexual behaviours has been abused by another person, they must use the 4 Critical Actions to identify and respond to child .
For further information about harmful sexual behaviour, refer to: Harmful sexual behaviour in children under 12.
Related policies
- Child Abuse (including grooming) – Identification and Response
- Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes
- Child Safe Standards
- Duty of Care
- Family Violence Support
- Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Workforces
- Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian Government Schools
- Police and Child Protection Interviews
- Requests for Information about Students
- Risk Management – Schools
- Student Support Groups
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 24 March 2026