Have you ever been in a situation where you should report a concern about the conduct of a registered teacher within your school or early childhood service? What about a situation that involved another member of your school or early childhood community – a parent, student or non-teaching staff member? 

Did you know how to report it and was the process clear? Did you feel supported and confident to make the report? 

The VIT has launched a conduct reporting guide to help teachers to understand and act on child safety matters. The guide also assists parents, learners, the general public, schools and early childhood services in reporting concerns about the conduct of any person employed in a Victorian education setting.

The guide includes a wide range of practical scenarios and various conduct concerns individuals may be obligated to report on, such as criminal behaviour (sexual and non-sexual), inappropriate conduct, teacher registration concerns, and school / service-based concerns. If you have concerns about someone’s conduct, the guide outlines who to report your concerns to, maps out which organisations are involved following a report, and explains the relationship between the VIT and other co-regulators.

Explore these scenarios…

Understanding your child safety reporting obligations

The impact of the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry and Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has dramatically changed the public expectations of teacher conduct and behaviour. 
 
A crucial role for teachers and early childhood teachers is to respond effectively to children and young people whose safety and wellbeing may be at risk, or who are in need of protection.  
 
All registered teachers in Victoria are mandated to report physical and sexual abuse of children to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Child Protection. In some cases, you might be legally required to report matters – but how do you know what you should (or could) report, and who to report it to?  

Conduct reporting guide

The guide was developed in collaboration with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) and the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division of the Victorian Department of Education and Training (QARD). These organisations frequently work together to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. 

Supporting your professional learning

The Child Protection and Child Safe Standards (PROTECT) Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations eLearning modules are available for all school and early childhood staff. These modules explore teachers’ responsibilities for protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. 
 
All staff working in schools and early childhood settings within Victoria – particularly those with mandatory reporting obligations – are strongly encouraged to regularly undertake and complete the relevant online module.