TY - CHAP
T1 - Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect by health professionals
AU - Scott, Debbie
AU - Fraser, Jennifer
PY - 2015/2/5
Y1 - 2015/2/5
N2 - The role of Australian health professionals in reporting child abuse and neglect, in particular medical and nursing personnel, has increased substantially during the past two decades. This chapter discusses key issues related to the recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect by health professionals in Australia. Health professionals, like teachers, police and other professional groups, are variously obligated through policy and legislation to report their knowledge or suspicion of child maltreatment. As well, health services impose policies in line with the legislation specific to their jurisdiction to assist clinical staff in responding when they know of, or have a reasonable suspicion of, harm being caused to a child. In most Australian states and territories, if doctors and nurses know or suspect that a child is, has been or is likely to suffer significant harm, then they have a legal obligation to report this to designated authorities.
AB - The role of Australian health professionals in reporting child abuse and neglect, in particular medical and nursing personnel, has increased substantially during the past two decades. This chapter discusses key issues related to the recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect by health professionals in Australia. Health professionals, like teachers, police and other professional groups, are variously obligated through policy and legislation to report their knowledge or suspicion of child maltreatment. As well, health services impose policies in line with the legislation specific to their jurisdiction to assist clinical staff in responding when they know of, or have a reasonable suspicion of, harm being caused to a child. In most Australian states and territories, if doctors and nurses know or suspect that a child is, has been or is likely to suffer significant harm, then they have a legal obligation to report this to designated authorities.
KW - child abuse and neglect
KW - reporting by health professionals
KW - Australia
KW - legislation
KW - policy
KW - clinical issues
KW - mandatory reporting
KW - paediatric care and child abuse
KW - medical care and child abuse
KW - nursing care and child abuse
U2 - 10.1007/978-94-017-9685-9_18
DO - 10.1007/978-94-017-9685-9_18
M3 - Chapter (Book)
SN - 9789401796842
T3 - Contemporary Issues in Research and Policy
SP - 381
EP - 393
BT - Mandatory Reporting Laws and the Identification of Severe Child Abuse and Neglect
A2 - Mathews, Ben
A2 - Bross, Donald C.
PB - Springer
CY - Dordrecht, Netherlands
ER -