Concerns received by Child Safety
Source: Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.
What is being counted
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Data is for the year ending the reference date (12 months of data).
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Age group: Based on the age of the child at the time the concerns were received.
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Intake: Intakes include notifications and child concern reports. If an intake report relates to more than one child, a notification or child concern report is counted for each child. If a child was subject to more than one report during the reference period, a notification or child concern report is counted for each instance.
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Children subject to an intake: If a child was subject to more than one intake during the period, the child is counted only once.
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Child concern report: If a child concern report relates to more than one child, a report is counted for each child. If a child was subject to more than one report during the period, a child concern report is counted for each instance.
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Children subject to a child concern report: If a child was subject to more than one child concern report during the period, the child is counted only once.
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Notification: If a notification relates to more than one child, a report is counted for each child. If a child was subject to more than one report during the period, a notification is counted for each instance.
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Children subject to a notification: If a child was subject to more than one notification during the period, the child is counted only once.
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Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
Definition notes
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Intake: Intake refers to the process by which Child Safety receives and gathers information about harm or risk of harm to a child or an unborn child who may be at risk of harm after he or she is born, and determines the appropriate response to the information received. Intake processes are initiated when professionals, family members or members of the public contact Regional Intake Services or Child Safety Service Centres with concerns about a child.
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Child concern report: A child concern report (CCR) is a record of child protection concerns received by the department that does not meet the threshold for a notification. A child safety officer may respond to a CCR by providing information and advice, making a referral to an appropriate agency, or providing information to the police or another state authority.
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Notification: A notification is recorded where there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is in need of protection, that is, a child has been significantly harmed, is being significantly harmed, or is at risk of significant harm, and does not have a parent able and willing to protect them.
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Intake source: The source of the concerns received.
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Mandatory reporters: Under legislation there are groups of people and professionals who are required to report child protection concerns. These include:
- medical practitioners and registered nurses
- approved teachers
- authorised officers or employees of the department
- police officers with child protection responsibilities
- a person performing a child advocate function under the Public Guardian Act 2014
- early childhood education and care professionals
- employees of licensed residential facilities with respect to harm involving children in residential care.
Time series notes
Intakes
See below table notes for child concern reports and notifications.
Child concern reports
January 2018 – An additional Intensive Family Support service opened.
October 2017 – Eleven more Intensive Family Support services opened across nine catchments in Queensland.
July 2017 – Amendments to the Child Protection Act 1999 commenced. From 1 July 2017, early childhood education and care professionals are required to report child safety concerns where there is a reasonable suspicion that the child has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse, and there is not a parent willing and able to protect the child from harm.
Notifications
July 2017 – Amendments to the Child Protection Act 1999 commenced. From 1 July 2017, early childhood education and care professionals are required to report child safety concerns where there is a reasonable suspicion that the child has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse, and there is not a parent willing and able to protect the child from harm.