Reporting Concerns of Harm or Abuse Policy

This policy outlines how Jabiru Community College responds to harm or allegations of harm involving students under 18, and sets expectations for staff and student conduct to protect young people’s safety and wellbeing.

Reporting Concerns of Harm or Abuse Policy

Read further for the full details of this policy. If you have any questions, please Contact Us.

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide written processes about:

a) how the school will respond to harm, or allegations of harm, to students under 18 years; and

b) the appropriate conduct of the school's staff and students

to ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people at Jabiru Community College and to comply with accreditation requirements.

Scope: Directors, students and staff. Staff includes: full-time, part-time, permanent, fixed-term and casual employees, as well as contractors, volunteers and people undertaking work experience or vocational placements at Jabiru Community College.

Status: Approved

Supersedes: 2025 Child Protection Policy

Authorised by: CLL Board of Directors

Date of Authorisation: 18/02/2026

References:

The updated version of the following policy or procedure can be read and acknowledged in your Employment Hero:

JCC Complaints Handling Policy
JCC Complaints Handling Procedure
JCC Student Safety and Wellbeing Policy
JCC Work Health and Safety Policy (for the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld))
JCC Child Protection Reporting Forms located in Sentral

Review Date: Annually

Next Review Date: 18/02/2027

Policy Owner: CLL Board of Directors

Definitions

Section 8 definition of a child is: an individual under 18 years.
Section 9 of the Child Protection Act 1999 — "Harm", to a child is:
1. Harm, to a child, is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child's physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.
2. It is immaterial how the harm is caused.
3. Harm can be caused by physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect, or sexual abuse or exploitation.
4. Harm can be caused by a single act, omission or circumstance, or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances.
Section 10 of the Child Protection Act 1999 — A "child in need of protection" is a child who:
1. has suffered significant harm, is suffering significant harm, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm; and
2. does not have a parent able and willing to protect the child from the harm.
A reportable suspicion under section 13E(2) is a reasonable suspicion that the child:
1. has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse; and
2. may not have a parent able and willing to protect the child from the harm.
Section 364 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 — "Sexual abuse", in relation to a relevant person, includes sexual behaviour involving the relevant person and another person in the following circumstances:
1. the other person bribes, coerces, exploits, threatens or is violent toward the relevant person;
2. the relevant person has less power than the other person;
3. there is a significant disparity between the relevant person and the other person in intellectual capacity or maturity.

Health and Safety

The school has written processes in place to enable it to comply with the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld).

Conduct of Staff and Students

All staff will ensure that their behaviour towards, and relationships with students, reflect proper standards of care for students. Staff, contractors and volunteers must not cause harm to students.

Students Reporting Inappropriate Behaviour

If a student considers the behaviour of a staff member to be inappropriate, the student should report the behaviour to:

Cassy Ciantar, Co-Principal; or
Liza Page, Co-Principal.

Staff Dealing with Reports of Inappropriate Behaviour

A staff member who receives a report of inappropriate behaviour must report it to a Co-Principal. Where a Co-Principal is the subject of the report of inappropriate behaviour, the staff member must inform a member of the school's governing body. Reports will be dealt with under the school's Complaints Handling Policy.

Reportable Conduct Scheme Obligations

The school will comply with its obligations under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld) by ensuring that reportable allegations and reportable convictions involving workers are reported internally as soon as practicable, notified to the Queensland Family and Child Commission within required statutory timeframes, and appropriately investigated and reported as required under the Act.

An initial report under this section must include the following particulars:

a) details of the reportable allegation or reportable conviction;

b) the name, including any former name or alias, of the worker the subject of the reportable allegation or reportable conviction;

c) the date of birth of the worker, if known;

d) the name of the head of the reporting entity;

e) whether the sector regulator for the reporting entity or the police service has been contacted about the reportable allegation or reportable conviction;

f) the reporting entity's contact details, including its name, address and telephone number;

g) if the worker currently performs work for the reporting entity, any action, including risk management action, taken in response to the reportable allegation or reportable conviction, including, for example:

immediate steps taken to prevent the worker from having contact with children; and
any disciplinary action taken or proposed to be taken against the worker;

h) any other matter prescribed by regulation.

Queensland College of Teachers Obligations

The school will comply with its obligations under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld) by notifying the Queensland College of Teachers as soon as practicable when the school begins dealing with an allegation of harm to a child involving a teacher, and again as soon as practicable once the school's dealings with the allegation are concluded.

A notice when the school begins dealing with an allegation of harm to a child involving a teacher must include the following particulars:

a) the name of the employing authority and, if the name of the authority is different to the name of the prescribed school, the name of the prescribed school;

b) the name of the relevant teacher;

c) the day the employing authority started dealing with the allegation;

d) the allegation, particulars of the allegation and any other relevant information;

e) details about what actions the employing authority has taken to deal with the allegation.

Reporting Sexual Abuse

Section 366 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 states that if a staff member becomes aware, or reasonably suspects, in the course of their employment at the school, that any of the following has been sexually abused by another person:

a) a student under 18 years attending the school;

b) a kindergarten aged child registered in a kindergarten learning program at the school;

c) a person with a disability who:

under section 420(2) of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 is being provided with special education at the school; and
is not enrolled in the preparatory year at the school;

then the staff member must give a written report about the abuse or suspected abuse to the principal or to a director of the school's governing body immediately.

The school's principal or the director must immediately give a copy of the report to a police officer.

If the first person who becomes aware or reasonably suspects sexual abuse is a Jabiru Community College Co-Principal, the Co-Principal must give a written report about the abuse, or suspected abuse, to a police officer immediately and must also give a copy of the report to a director of the school's governing body immediately.

A report under this section must include the following particulars:

a) the name of the person giving the report (the first person);

b) the student's name and sex;

c) details of the basis for the first person becoming aware, or reasonably suspecting, that the student has been sexually abused by another person;

d) details of the abuse or suspected abuse;

e) any of the following information of which the first person is aware:

the student's age;
the identity of the person who has abused, or is suspected to have abused, the student;
the identity of anyone else who may have information about the abuse or suspected abuse.

Reporting Likely Sexual Abuse

Section 366A of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 states that if a staff member reasonably suspects, in the course of their employment at the school, that any of the following is likely to be sexually abused by another person:

a) a student under 18 years attending the school;

b) a kindergarten aged child registered in a kindergarten learning program at the school;

c) a person with a disability who:

under section 420(2) of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 is being provided with special education at the school; and
is not enrolled in the preparatory year at the school;

then the staff member must give a written report about the suspicion to a Co-Principal or to a director of the school's governing body immediately.

The school's Co-Principal or the director must immediately give a copy of the report to a police officer.

If the first person who reasonably suspects likely sexual abuse is a Co-Principal, the Co-Principal must give a written report about the suspicion to a police officer immediately and must also give a copy of the report to a director of the school's governing body immediately.

A report under this section must include the following particulars:

a) the name of the person giving the report (the first person);

b) the student's name and sex;

c) details of the basis for the first person reasonably suspecting that the student is likely to be sexually abused by another person;

d) any of the following information of which the first person is aware:

the student's age;
the identity of the person who is suspected to be likely to sexually abuse the student;
the identity of anyone else who may have information about suspected likelihood of abuse.

Responding to Harm

Harm Caused by Physical or Sexual Abuse

Under Section 13E(3) of the Child Protection Act 1999, if a doctor, a registered nurse, a teacher or an early childhood education and care professional forms a "reportable suspicion" about a child in the course of their engagement in their profession, they must make a written report.

A reportable suspicion about a child is a reasonable suspicion that the child:

a) has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse; and

b) may not have a parent able and willing to protect the child from the harm.

The doctor, nurse, teacher or early childhood education and care professional must give a written report to the Chief Executive of the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (or another department administering the Child Protection Act 1999). The doctor, nurse, teacher or early childhood education and care professional should give a copy of the report to the principal.

A report under this section must include the following particulars:

a) the basis on which the person has formed the reportable suspicion;

b) the child's name, age and sex descriptor;

c) details of how to contact the child;

d) details of the harm to which the reportable suspicion relates;

e) particulars of the identity of the person suspected of causing the child to have suffered, suffer, or be at risk of suffering, the harm to which the reportable suspicion relates;

f) particulars of the identity of any other person who may be able to give information about the harm to which the reportable suspicion relates.

Chermside Child Safety Service Centre

Address: Ground level, Commonwealth Centre, 18 Banfield Street, Chermside Centre, Qld 4032

Postal address: PO Box 2377, Chermside Centre, Qld 4032

Phone: (07) 3097 0500

Outside of business hours, you can contact the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on phone free call 1800 177 135 (Queensland only).

Harm Caused by Psychological or Emotional Abuse or Neglect

When the school receives any information alleging "harm" to a student (other than harm arising from physical or sexual abuse) it will deal with the situation compassionately and fairly so as to minimise any likely harm to the extent it reasonably can. This may include reporting through the Co-Principals to Child Safety. If the harm is not at a level that is otherwise reportable to Child Safety, the matter should be referred to the Co-Principals, who may then refer the matter to Family and Child Connect.

Responsibilities under Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld)

The Criminal Code Act 1899 includes two offences that pertain to the failure to report a child sexual offence and the failure to protect a child against a child sexual offence. A child sexual offence is an offence of a sexual nature by an adult against a child under 16 years or a person with an impairment of the mind.

Failure to Report

Under section 229BC of the Code, all adults must report sexual offences against a child by another adult to police as soon as reasonably practicable after the belief is, or ought reasonably to have been, formed. Failure to make a report, without a reasonable excuse, is a criminal offence. This offence applies to all adults inclusive of students 18 years or older, as well as parents/guardians and volunteers at the school. A reasonable excuse not to make a report under the Criminal Code Act 1899 includes that a report has already been made under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (reporting sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse) and the Child Protection Act 1999 (reporting significant harm or risk of significant harm) as per this policy.

Failure to Protect

Under section 229BB of the Code, all adults in positions of power or responsibility within institutions to reduce or remove the risk of child sexual offences being committed must take reasonable steps to protect children in their care from a child sexual offence. A failure to protect is an offence.

Awareness

The school will inform staff, students and parents of its processes relating to the health, safety and conduct of staff and students in communications to them, and it will publish these processes on its website.

Accessibility of Processes

Processes relating to the health, safety and conduct of staff and students are accessible on the school website and will be available on request from the school administration.

Training

The school will train its staff in processes relating to the health, safety and conduct of staff and students on their induction, and will refresh training annually.

Implementing the Processes

The school will ensure it is implementing processes relating to the health, safety and conduct of staff and students by auditing compliance with the processes annually.

Complaints Procedure

Suggestions of non-compliance with the school's processes may be submitted as complaints under the JCC Complaints Policy.

Reporting Forms

Reports to JCC Principals or Chairperson of the Board

Reports can be made using the following digital forms. All forms collect the particulars outlined above which are required for reports under each section of this policy.

Suspected physical or sexual harm report — For reporting to the College Principal suspected physical or sexual harm caused by any person to a child. To be documented on Sentral directly into a student's file, under Wellbeing > Incident reports > Type: Suspected Physical or Sexual Harm. Sentral is available on all staff devices including phones.
Physical or sexual harm caused by a College Co-Principal form — For reporting to the Chairperson of CLL suspected physical or sexual harm allegedly caused by a College Co-Principal towards a child. Available at: https://docs.google.com/a/jcc.qld.edu.au/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEl2oxNql1BF-d0bMTQIW9b-6mNvevDv8LlCQUUSR7FF7g9w/viewform. This form is available from any internet connected device. Please note that access to form submission results is restricted to the Chairperson of Community Learning Ltd. To maintain confidentiality this form will not be moved to Sentral, as Co-Principals have vision of all reports in Sentral.

Reports to External Authorities

Report of Suspected Sexual Abuse to QLD Police form — To be used only by the College Principal or Director to report suspected sexual abuse to the Police. Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12K-mYWn8ZNrxJSUAsXgBtgZlSq9Gq7rLr2YS8CORwr8/edit?usp=sharing. This form is for Co-Principals or Directors' use only. This form needs to be downloaded, completed and then emailed to cpiu.northbrisbane@police.qld.gov.au. The completed form is to be scanned and uploaded to the student's Sentral file under StudentName > Documents > Confidential.
DCSYW Form — To be used by any member of college staff to report suspected physical or sexual abuse directly to the Chief Executive of the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (or other department administering the Child Protection Act 1999). Available at: https://secure.communities.qld.gov.au/cbir/ChildSafety#. This form is managed and hosted by the Department. Once submitted, the completed form is to be scanned and uploaded to the student's Sentral file under StudentName > Documents > Confidential.

If for any reason these forms are unavailable (e.g. internet/network failure) reports can be made in writing to the relevant member of staff or external authority. In such cases, ensure that the relevant particulars (as outlined above) are included in the written report, and a copy of the form is to be scanned and uploaded to the Young Person's Sentral file under StudentName > Documents > Confidential.

Appendix A:Summary of Reporting

All staff — Sexual abuse. Test: awareness or suspicion; sexually abused or likely to be sexually abused. Report to: Co-Principal or to a director of the governing body, through to police immediately. Legislation: EGPA sections 366 and 366A.

Co-Principal, if "first person" — Sexual abuse. Test: awareness or suspicion; sexually abused or likely to be sexually abused. Report to: a director of the governing body and police immediately. Legislation: EGPA sections 366 and 366A.

Teacher and registered nurse — Sexual and physical abuse. Test: significant harm, and parent may not be willing and able. Report to: confer with Co-Principal, report to Child Safety. Legislation: CPA sections 13E and 13G.

All staff — Physical, psychological, emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation. Test: significant harm, and parent may not be willing and able. Report to: Co-Principal, through to Child Safety. Legislation: Accreditation Regulation section 16.

All staff — Any harm. Test: not a level that is otherwise reportable to Child Safety. Report to: Family and Child Connect, may refer with consent, or Co-Principal, through to Family and Child Connect. Legislation: CPA sections 13B and 159M.

Co-Principals — Any harm. Test: not a level that is otherwise reportable to Child Safety. Report to: Family and Child Connect, may refer without consent. Legislation: CPA sections 13B and 159M.

Employing authority (Co-Principals/Board) — Harm or likely harm due to the conduct of a teacher. Test: when you start to deal with an allegation, and when you finish dealing with an allegation. Report to: Queensland College of Teachers. Legislation: QCT sections 76 and 77.

Any member of the public — Any harm. Test: significant harm, and parent may not be willing and able. Report to: Child Safety. Legislation: CPA section 13A.

Any adult, including students 18 years or older, parents/guardians and volunteers — A child sexual offence against a child by an adult. Test: gains information that causes the adult to believe on reasonable grounds, or ought reasonably to cause the adult to believe, that a child sexual offence is being or has been committed, and at the relevant time the child is or was under 16 years, or a person with an impairment of the mind. Report to: police as soon as reasonably practicable after the belief is, or ought reasonably to have been, formed. Legislation: Criminal Code section 229BC.

All workers — Reportable allegation or reportable conviction by a worker. Test: reasonable belief that a worker has committed reportable conduct, or misconduct that may involve reportable conduct. It is irrelevant whether or not the conduct or misconduct is alleged to have occurred in the course of the worker performing work for the school (entity). Report to: Head of Entity or their delegate, as soon as practicable. Where the allegations involve the Head of Entity, the notification must be made to the QFCC. May also go to a director of the governing body. Legislation: CSO Act section 33.

Head of the Reporting Entity (Head of Entity) or their delegate — Reportable allegation or reportable conviction by a worker. Test: reasonable belief that a worker has committed reportable conduct, or misconduct that may involve reportable conduct. It is irrelevant whether or not the conduct or misconduct is alleged to have occurred in the course of the worker performing work for the school (entity). Report to: QFCC initial notification within 3 business days; QFCC either interim or final report, within 30 business days. Legislation: CSO Act sections 34, and 30(1)(c).

Any person — Reportable allegation or reportable conviction by any worker. Test: reasonable belief that any worker has committed reportable conduct, or misconduct that may involve reportable conduct. It is irrelevant whether or not the conduct or misconduct is alleged to have occurred in the course of the worker performing work for the school (entity) or any other entity. Report to: may report to QFCC at any time. Legislation: CSO Act section 33(4).