NOTIFICATION

Under the Children's Protection Act 1993 s 11 certain people (mandated notifiers) must notify Families SA if they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child has been, or is being, abused or neglected and the suspicion is formed in the course of the person's work (whether paid or voluntary) or in carrying out official duties.

Mandated notifiers include:

doctors
nurses
dentists
police officers
psychologists
social workers
pharmacists
community corrections officers whose duties include the supervision of young or adult offender in the community
teachers
family day care providers
a minister of religion *
a person who is an employee of, or volunteer in, an organisation formed for religious or spiritual purposes
any employee or volunteer in an agency (government and non-government) engaged in or responsible for the delivery of health, welfare, education, sporting or recreational, child care or residential services wholly or partly for children

The law does not require proof of harm, but a notification must be accompanied by a statement of the observations, information and opinions upon which the suspicion is based. This can be done verbally to a Families SA social worker. In making a report, mandated notifiers are assured of confidentiality (subject to certain exceptions), are immune from civil liability and do not breach professional ethics for reporting their suspicions in good faith. Reports can lead Families SA to investigate further, see investigations.

* Under the provisions of the Children's Protection Act 1993 a priest or other minister of religion is not required to divulge information communicated in the course of a confession made in accordance with the rules of the relevant religion.