Children and Young People at Risk

Many Australian children and young people are at significant risk of abuse and neglect. The reported prevalence of child maltreatment (neglect, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse) is at alarming levels. Vulnerable families require intensive support from an overburdened system struggling to respond to mandatory reporting requirements. When is a child in need of protection and when do ‘abusive and neglectful behaviours’ become ‘abuse’ and ‘neglect’? There is a range of factors that expose ch