Creating a safe and supportive learning environment includes knowing how to respond when someone makes a disclosure.

The following guidance helps educators and school staff respond with care and professionalism and aligns with policy requirements.

Mandatory reporting

Disclosures of child protection concerns, including abuse or violence, may be made to teaching and non-teaching school staff at any time.

School leaders must ensure all staff understand and adhere to the Child Protection: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm Policy and Procedures. It explains how to identify and manage risk of harm concerns and keep children and young people, including students in statutory out-of-home care, safe and supported in NSW public schools.

Staff must inform their principal or workplace manager when a disclosure has been made. The Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG) can help make informed decisions regarding child protection concerns.

Principals and workplace managers must report suspected risk of significant harm concerns to:

• the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Child Protection Helpline (132 111)
• or seek advice from the Department of Education’s Child Wellbeing Unit on 1300 457 537.

Principals or workplace managers are also responsible for:

• providing feedback and information to the notifying staff member that a report has been made
• supplying them with an engagement number.

If a staff member believes a child protection concern has not been reported and/or managed appropriately, they have a legal duty to do it themselves. Staff members can access the Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG) to guide their decision on whether to make a report to the DCJ.

More information is available on the Child protection web pages.

Responding to disclosures made by students

If a child or young person intentionally discloses abuse to a staff member, they are likely seeking help. Research shows that a trusted adult’s response to a disclosure can influence future help-seeking and trauma recovery. Responding appropriately also:

• protects the trusted adult
• helps avoid jeopardising any legal action against the perpetrator
• can reduce the risk that the disclosure leads to further harm.

Regardless of whether a child or young person makes an intentional disclosure or not, the trusted adult could say:

• ‘I believe you’
• ‘You did the right thing telling me’
• ‘I’m glad you told me’
• ‘I am going to try to help you’
• ‘Would you like me to refer you to [the school counsellor or school psychologist]?’
• ‘This is what I am going to do’
• ‘You are not to blame’.

A teacher may also consider proactively teaching these responses to students in case a peer discloses personal information to them.

If a disclosure is made, the trusted adult should not:

• react in a shocked or repulsed way
• act as if they were already aware
• ask leading questions
• ask to see evidence of alleged abuse
• ask questions that could be critical of the disclosure
• ask the person to repeat themselves
• promise that they will keep it to themselves
• discuss the disclosure freely with others who do not need to know
• confront the person causing harm.

If the disclosure involves identifying peers who have engaged in reportable behaviour, steps should be taken to minimise the opportunity for direct, close or immediate contact between the students involved.

Unless it is likely to cause distress to the child or young person, the trusted adult may also take notes to record the details of what prompted the disclosure. In doing so, staff should provide relevant information to support their concerns and give context to the situation. (See Information for staff to include in a report.)

The trusted adult should follow the Child Protection: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm Policy and Procedures to immediately report the disclosed abuse to the principal or workplace manager.

School staff are not trained investigators or child protection workers and therefore should not attempt to engage in a fact-finding inquiry. Instead, schools should:

• gather information that allows the identification of risks (including the learning and psychological safety of student/s)
• assess whether relevant control measures are adequate in mitigating the identified risk
• ensure they can implement appropriate supports and adjustments.

See Risk management (staff only) for more information.

Responding to disclosures made by staff and members of the community

It is important to recognise that effective implementation of Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) not only increases awareness among students but also among school staff and members of the community.

This can result in adults also making disclosures, where they or someone they know may have experienced abuse or violence or have used abuse or violence towards others. It is important to respond appropriately, regardless of the person’s age. The phrases suggested above can also be used when responding to disclosures made by adults.

Disclosures involving risk of harm to children and young people

Staff have a legal and ethical obligation to report any suspicions or disclosures of risk of harm or significant harm to children and young people to the principal or workplace manager. This must occur regardless of the age of the alleged offender or whether the child attends the school.

If the disclosure involves a Department of Education staff member, the school leader should inform Professional and Ethical Standards, following the advice received from the Child Protection Helpline or Child Wellbeing Unit.

Disclosures involving risk of harm to members of the community

School staff are not responsible for resolving or managing disclosures made by members of the community unless a child has been, or is at risk of being, harmed. However, staff may refer the community member to support services or contact Triple Zero (000) if there is an immediate danger. Confidential support and information can be accessed via:

• NSW Domestic Violence Line (nationwide) on 1800 656 463
• 1800 RESPECT (nationwide) on 1800 737 732
• White Ribbon Australia.

Effect of disclosures on staff members

It is not unusual for someone who has received a disclosure to feel affected. Individuals may be impacted not only at the time of the disclosure, but also later on. For advice on how school staff can support themselves and colleagues who have had disclosures made to them, refer to Support for self and others.

The department’s webpages on domestic and family violence support and assistance also provide guidance for staff members who may have received a disclosure from a colleague. These offer:

• Guidance for staff concerned about a colleague (staff only)
• Support for employees experiencing domestic or family violence (staff only).

Resources

• Child protection – responding to and reporting students at risk of harm policy – NSW Department of Education
• Child protection – NSW Department of Education
• Mandatory Reporter Guide
• Risk management (staff only) – NSW Department of Education
• Guidance for staff concerned about a colleague (staff only) – NSW Department of Education
• Support for employees experiencing domestic or family violence (staff only) – NSW Department of Education
• Domestic and family violence – support and assistance (staff only) – NSW Department of Education
• Domestic, family and sexual violence – NSW Department of Communities and Justice
• White Ribbon Australia
• 1800 RESPECT