Any sexual activity or behaviour that is imposed on a child or young person is considered sexual harm. Sexual harm can occur when someone in a position of power uses that power to involve the child or young person in sexual activity. A position of power may include a position of power by strength, age, developmental capacity, or where the victim is substance affected/unable to consent.

Possible concerning behaviours of someone in a position of power that may indicate sexual harm to a child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• sexual behaviour, penetration and/or touching of body parts (in a sexualised way) or penetrating an orifice with a body part or object
• sexual exploitation – engaging in, supporting or coercing
• intentional exposure to sexual acts or sexually explicit material/pornography
• using technology to make someone amenable to sexual harm (for example, posing as someone else)
• grooming (bribing, coercing, manipulating) to make the child or young person amenable to exploitation
• taking part in a marriage ceremony that would be considered invalid under Australian law
• planning for or previous genital mutilation

You may develop a reasonable suspicion or awareness of sexual harm to a child or young person if any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• disclosure of harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• injury to the genital, rectal or other private areas such as genital mutilation, bruising or bleeding
• presence of foreign bodies in vagina or rectum
• being pregnant, which is likely the result of sexual harm
• sexually transmitted infections or frequent urinary tract infections
• the child or young person does not explicitly state that they have been sexually harmed, but makes an indirect or partial disclosure. This may be done through artistic expression or play that depicts or describes the harm, or making statements about a person, place or activity that raise a suspicion that sexual harm has occurred
• contact that exposes the child or young person to risk of harm by a person who is a known perpetrator of sexual harm (regardless of whether previous allegations of sexual offending resulted in criminal charges). Relevant information about the person’s history of sexual offending may be provided by members of the child or young person’s family or community networks, or by service providers or professionals working with the child or young person and/or their family.
• smearing of faeces
• inappropriate sexual behaviour for the child or young person’s age or developmental capacity, including excessive masturbation (for more information, refer to  Age Appropriate Sexual Behaviours in Children and Young People)
• wariness of physical contact with others (including fearful or withdrawn) including an unusual fear of a place, person or activity (for example, an unusual fear of having their nappy changed)
• fear or avoidance of home and/or family member(s), particularly if the perpetrator is in the family home and/or running away
• significant sleep difficulties - such as poor sleeping patterns, significant fear of the dark, nightmares, persistent bedwetting
• persistent enuresis or encopresis (persistent wetting or soiling self)
• sudden accumulation of money or gifts that is otherwise unexplained
• being lured via the internet/social media platforms for sexual purposes.

Any physical harm or risk of physical harm perpetrated/inflicted by a parent or caregiver against a child or young person, for which the child or young person is ordinarily protected. An injury is considered ‘inflicted’ if it was alleged to be caused wilfully or as a result of punishment.

Possible concerning behaviours of someone in a position of power that may indicate physical harm to a child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• inflicting an injury (for example, with open hands, fists or objects)
• choking or strangulation, biting, pushing, punching, kicking, hitting (with open hand, fist or objects)
• torture (burning, scalding, exposure to extreme temperatures)
• medical condition, or physical or intellectual disability that has an impact on parenting and/or protective capacity
• alcohol or other drug mis-administration/misuse (prescribed and illicit drugs)
• threats to injure or kill
• previous genital mutilation (or plans to)
• induced or fabricated illness.

You may develop a reasonable suspicion of physical harm to a child or young person if any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• child or young person discloses harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• the child or young person states that an injury has been inflicted by someone else, offers an unlikely explanation, or ‘can’t remember’ the cause of the injury
• information which indicates that the child or young person has experienced or is likely to experience an inflicted injury
• skull fracture, subdural bleeding, concerning fractures or dislocations, multiple fractures of different ages
• weal, ligature or bite marks
• bruises in unlikely places (face, back, ears, hands, buttocks, upper thighs, breasts and soft parts of the body)
• injuries that are unexplained or the explanation is implausible
• non-mobile child or young person, or a child or young person with limited mobility has an unexplained injury. Any inflicted injury to an infant is serious.
• pressure marks or shaped bruising that resemble an implement or body part
• suspicious burns or lacerations
• poisoning or inappropriate use of medications, including child or young person has accidentally or forcibly ingested/inhaled/was exposed to illicit substances
• abdominal injuries
• genital mutilation
• previously unsuspicious injuries that when a pattern emerges become suspicious as to the cause of the multiple injuries
• unusual fear of physical contact with adults (flinches when unexpectedly touched)
• wears clothes unsuitable for weather conditions to hide injuries
• fearfulness when other children cry or shout
• hiding injuries until healed.

A child or young person whose parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s) is subject to domestic and family violence that is chronic or severe and the child or young person may be harmed, or at risk of harm. Domestic and family violence may include violence and coercive control. The child or young person does not need to be directly involved in the violence to be harmed, or at risk of harm.

Possible concerning caregiver acts (including attempts or threats to) behaviours that may indicate domestic and family violence to a child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• victim disclosure
• injure, kill, harm or damage self, another family member including the child or young person, pet or property
• strangulation/choking
• physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, social or financial harm
• stalking or other monitoring behaviours
• preventing a caregiver from making safe decisions for the child or young person (care, medical treatment etc.)
• social isolation of victim and/or child or young person
• Coercive control.

You may develop a reasonable suspicion or awareness of harm to a child or young person as a result of domestic and family violence where any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• child or young person discloses harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• a current provisional, interim or final intervention order due to domestic and family violence is in place for a household member, however it is not being complied with
• a current family law contact order is in place, but is not being complied with that prohibits a household member having contact with another person due to family and domestic violence
• injuries sustained during an incident of domestic and family violence
• physical, verbal, emotional violence towards others
• cruelty towards animals
• viewing themselves as the source of anger, a mediator or distractor (egocentric stage).

It is noted that a child or young person does not need to directly be harmed, or witness family and domestic violence to be impacted.

It is noted there is a strong correlation between neglect, sexual and physical abuse with the presence of domestic and family violence.

The child or young person’s development is impaired, or at risk, as a direct result of caregiver attitude and behaviour towards the child or young person.

Possible concerning caregiver behaviours that may indicate emotional harm to a child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• terrorising and/or threatening to harm the child or young person, self, others or pets
• a pattern of hostile, aggressive, erratic, unpredictable or risky behaviours towards the child or young person or others.
• deliberately causing the child or young person to observe distressing and traumatic events
• shaming, degradation, scapegoating
• deliberate manipulation in a harmful way
• exposure to domestic and family violence
• exploitation or corruption of a child or young person
• rejecting and/or denying physical and/or emotional responsiveness
• consistently ignoring the child or young person’s need for attention or affection
• everything the child or young person does is criticised without any praise to offset the criticism
• distorted perception of reality
• parental alienation
• threatening to return the child or young person to their country of origin (if not born in Australia).

You may develop a reasonable suspicion of emotional harm to a child or young person if any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• child or young person discloses harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• mental health professional has assessed that caregiver actions or omissions have caused or exacerbated the child or young person’s emotional and/or behavioural difficulty
• child or young person exhibits emotions and/or behaviours that indicate harm or is likely to suffer harm
• lying or stealing that is problematic and not age or developmentally appropriate.

The child or young person’s basic needs (including supervision, physical, medical and emotional) are unmet by their caregiver to the point that the child or young person has suffered harm, or is likely to suffer harm. Neglect could be a single significant event, or a chronic pattern of behaviour or circumstance.

Possible concerning caregiver behaviours that may indicate neglect to a child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• not providing or withholding adequate food, nutrition or other physical necessities
• inability to maintain a safe and appropriately stimulating physical and emotional environment
• medical condition, or physical or intellectual disability that has an impact on parenting and/or protective capacity
• failure to provide adequate supervision and/or protection
• failure to meet medical, therapeutic, developmental and educational needs
• lack of capacity to provide supervision and care
• lack of knowledge, skill, or awareness of the child or young person’s needs
• failure to provide warmth, nurturance, encouragement and support
• failure to provide boundaries and routine.

You may develop a reasonable suspicion of neglect to a child or young person if any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• child or young person discloses harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• abandonment by parents
• non-organic failure to thrive or failing to meet expected growth based on standard growth charts
• malnutrition
• untreated injury, illness or other medical conditions
• persistent/extreme nappy rash that is untreated
• unattended health problems and lack of routine medical care
• inadequate shelter and unsafe or unsanitary conditions
• sleeping arrangements that cause a likelihood of harm to the child or young person where it is reasonable to expect a caregiver to protect the child or young person from
• abnormally high appetite, stealing and/or hoarding and/or gorging food
• consistently poor hygiene (oral, hair, toileting and/or menses), malodourous, dirty and unwashed
• consistently inappropriately dressed for weather conditions
• prone to illness
• sallow or sickly appearance
• child or young person has educational difficulties – such as a sudden decline in academic performance, poor school attendance, persistent poor academic ability (refer to the Attendance policy), persistent poor academic ability.

When parent/guardian/caregiver’s substance use (illicit, prescribed or over the counter and including alcohol), or mental health concern, affects their ability to meet the child or young person’s basic needs, or maintain regular routines and a safe and functioning home environment, the child or young person may be harmed, or at risk of harm. Parental or carer intoxication can also significantly impact on their responsiveness and sensitivity to a child or young person’s emotional needs.

Possible concerning caregiver behaviours that may indicate substance use and/or mental health that impacts the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• observations of visible intoxication or other evidence of alcohol or other drug use, strong odour of alcohol and/or illicit substances
• aggressive or erratic behaviours towards the child or young person, or others
• life is organised around drug-seeking
• uses illicit substances in the presence of the child or young person
• unresponsive to new born or infants needs due to difficulties with emotional functioning
• threatens or attempts suicide, homicide, harms pets
• failure to provide adequate supervision and/or protection
• unsafe people frequenting the home
• medical condition, or physical or intellectual disability that has an impact on parenting and/or protective capacity
• distorted perception of reality
• not meeting the child or young person’s basic needs (clothing, school attendance, nutrition, medical)
• inability to maintain a safe and functioning home environment (access to drug paraphernalia, utilities disconnected) or supervise the child or young person
• unable to get up or out of bed or be responsive to the child or young person’s needs
• significant financial difficulties
• does not provide even minimal emotional support for child or young person.

You may develop a reasonable suspicion that a child or young person is being harmed by their caregiver’s substance use and/or mental health if any of the following indicators are present (and they cannot be explained by a medical, disability or behavioural condition/explanation):

• child or young person discloses harm that is believable, realistic and plausible
• significant age-inappropriate knowledge of substances.

A report/notification can also be made, but is not mandated, when a notifier suspects on reasonable grounds that the physical or psychological development of an unborn child is at risk.

The following parental behaviours may indicate a risk to an unborn child for any parent or caregiver living with the baby when they are born, which may be grounds for reasonable suspicion:

• domestic and family violence
• medical condition, or physical or intellectual disability that has an impact on parenting and/or protective capacity
• drug and/or alcohol use during pregnancy
• unmanaged mental illness that has an impact on the caregiver’s parenting capacity
• homelessness
• lack of antenatal care or preparations for birth including addressing any child protection risk factors
• parent/guardian/caregiver has been found guilty of a qualifying offence (murder, manslaughter, criminal neglect, causing serious harm, acts endangering life or creating risk of serious harm) towards their own child
• an expectant parent with a recent history of threatening, planning or attempting suicide or who is at serious risk of suicide.

A range of mental health and/or behavioural difficulties can indicate trauma and abuse.

These include:

• suicidal ideation and/or attempts, self-harm behaviours
• extreme seaparation anxiety
• anxiety – hypervigilance, persistent fidgeting, significant nervousness
• depressive symptoms – such as withdrawal, persistent low mood and motivation, lethargy, agitation, irritability
• fearful response
• significant risk-taking behaviour – such as alcohol or other drug misuse or offending behaviour
• aggressive and/or violent behaviours
• play that is dominated by concerning themes - such as violence or sexual content
• hyper or hypo activity
• significant social difficulties – such as difficulties with empathy, trust, overly compliant, shyness or passivity, excessively friendly with strangers/indiscriminately affectionate, peer relationships and interactions with others
• for Aboriginal children and young people, experiences of shame, social exclusion or adverse impacts on their cultural standing within their Aboriginal family and community networks
• eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
• obsessive compulsive behaviours – such as persistent washing
• poor self-image/self-esteem.

A range of difficulties and behaviours can indicate trauma and abuse. These include:

• developmental delays
• regression in developmental abilities - such as in speech or toileting
• infant does not cry to seek to have their needs met
• frequent rocking, sucking and biting which is not age appropriate
• significant difficulties within the parent-child relationship
• educational difficulties – such as a sudden decline in academic performance, poor school attendance, persistent poor academic ability (refer to the Attendance policy ), persistent poor academic ability
• difficulties with memory, concentration, attention and disruptive behaviour
• parentified behaviours
• fear or avoidance of home and/or family member(s), particularly if the perpetrator is in the family home and/or running away
• significant sleep difficulties - such as poor sleeping patterns, significant fear of the dark, nightmares, persistent bedwetting
• persistent enuresis or encopresis (persistent wetting or soiling self)
• poor self-care or personal hygiene.