Minister for Child Protection, Simone McGurk says the Children and Community Services Amendment Bill 2021 has passed State Parliament, requiring ministers of religion to report child sexual abuse, including when information was gained during confession.
Ms McGurk said the legislation implemented recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Safety of children is at the heart of the mandatory reporting reforms, which will better protect children by increasing the number of people who are legally required to report child sexual abuse,” she said.
“As well as ministers of religion, the changes extend mandatory reporting laws to early childhood workers, out-of-home care workers, registered psychologists, school counsellors and youth justice workers.”
The Minister said Department of Communities officers and assessors appointed to visit residential care services and secure care would also become mandatory reporters.
“The staggered implementation of the eight new mandatory reporter groups is expected to increase the number of people legally required to report child sexual abuse by an estimated 55,000 reporters,” she said.
“Significantly, there will be no excuse for failing to make a mandatory report because it was disclosed to a minister during a religious confession, or because making the report would otherwise be contrary to the tenets of the minister’s faith or religion.”
Ms McGurk said the Department would also be working more closely with Aboriginal stakeholders to better inform decision-making and ensure that Aboriginal people were at the centre of decisions that impacted Aboriginal children, families and communities.
