Child safety

What is child abuse?

Child abuse is an act or series of acts that endangers a child's or young person's physical, emotional, and developmental well-being. This may include:

• physical abuse – non-accidental infliction of physical violence, which injures or harms a child or young person
• emotional abuse – rejection, exclusion, isolation, threats, verbal abuse
• sexual abuse – using force or power to involve a child or young person in sexual activity
• grooming – communicating or trying to establish a relationship to prepare a child for sexual activity
• neglect – failing to meet a child or young person’s basic needs
• family violence – violent, threatening, or controlling behaviour in a domestic setting.

All adults in Victoria have a responsibility to report if they know or suspect that a child is being abused.

Reporting child abuse

Reporting child abuse is the first step in helping children, young people and families who experience abuse and neglect. 

The 4 R's of child safety offer a guide for how to report child abuse:

• Recognise: Identify signs of abuse or potential risks to a child's welfare.
• Record: Document all observations and disclosures thoroughly and confidentially (who, what, when, where).
• Respond: Stay calm, assess immediate danger, listen, and follow established policies and procedures
• Refer: Escalate the concern to the appropriate authorities (like police or child protection services) or relevant support services.

For more information, watch this video on the 4 R's of child safety.

Making a report or complaint to Council

We encourage children, young people, and their families to raise any child safety concerns with us.

Anyone can report child safety concerns to us in these ways:

• In person: Visit Customer Service at the Stonnington City Centre, 311 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
• Phone: Call Customer Service on 03 8290 1333 and ask to speak with a Child Safe Officer
• Email: childsafe@stonnington.vic.gov.au

As a child or young person, we give you a voice and support you to report child abuse. We encourage you to talk to an adult you trust. This person can support you or speak for you on your behalf.

You may want to make a complaint about:

• a Council service
• how a Council staff member treated you at a Council program, event, service, or facility.
• the way Council handled a problem.

For more information, watch this video on how a child can make a report.

Emergency

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 000 and ask for the police.

Non-emergency

If you have immediate concerns about the safety of a child or young person, contact Child Protection services on these numbers:

• Business hours number: 1300 664 977 (Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5:00pm)
• After-hours number: 13 12 78 (Monday to Friday, 5:00pm to 9:00am, all weekends and public holidays)

Support services

Lifeline

Phone: 131 114 (24 hours)

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free, 24-hour-a-day, confidential counselling service for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years. Talk to them over the phone, via email, or online chat. Phone: 1800 551 800.

Commission for Children and Young People

(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Phone: 03 8601 5884.

National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Phone: 1800 737 377.

SAMSN (Survivors & Mates Support Network)

Support for male survivors of child sexual abuse. Phone: 1800 472 676