Agency Contact Details
24 Hour Services
Department of Education and Training
Department of Health and Human Services Child Protection
West Rural and Regional LGSs
Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Greater Geelong, Moyne, Queenscliffe, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Warrnambool
1800 075 599
Child FIRST
Child FIRST referrals for students at Ararat Primary School can be made on:
Horsham - 1800 195 114
Ararat CAFS – 5352 2910
Other Services
Sexually Abusive Behaviour Treatment Services Providers
- Victoria Police - 000
- Department of Health and Human Services Child Protection - 131 278
- Department of Education and Training Security Services Unit - (03) 9589 6266
Department of Education and Training
- Security Services Unit - (03) 9589 6266
- Student Incident and Recovery Unit - (03) 9637 2934 or (03) 9637 2487
- Legal Division - (03) 9637 3146
- Employee Assistance Program - 1300 361 008
- Employee Health - (03) 9637 2395
- Employee Conduct Branch - (03) 9637 2595
- Privacy Unit - (03) 9637 3601
- International Division - (03) 9651 3976
- Communications Division - (03) 9637 2871
Department of Health and Human Services Child Protection
West Rural and Regional LGSs
Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Greater Geelong, Moyne, Queenscliffe, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Warrnambool
1800 075 599
Child FIRST
Child FIRST referrals for students at Ararat Primary School can be made on:
Horsham - 1800 195 114
Ararat CAFS – 5352 2910
Other Services
- Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) - Emergency Counselling & Support Line - 1800 806 292
- Australian Childhood Foundation - 1800 176 453
- Children's Protection Society - (03) 9450 0900
- Child Wise - (03) 9695 8900
- Vic Aboriginal Education Association - (03) 9481 0800
- Child Safety Commission - 1300 782 978
- Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner - 1800 880 176
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) - (03) 9287 8800
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) - (03) 9411 9411
Sexually Abusive Behaviour Treatment Services Providers
- Aust Childhood Foundation - (03) 9874 3922
- Children's Protection Society - (03) 9450 0900
- Berry St - (03) 5822 8100
- Mallee Sexual Assault - (03) 5025 5400
- Wimmera CASA - (03) 5381 9272
Department of Education and Training Agencies
Security Services Unit (DET)
The Security Services Unit provides a 24-hour communications centre for schools and Departmental staff to report a range of incidents. On receiving notification of an incident involving child abuse the Security Services Unit immediately alerts the Student Incident and Recovery Unit (SIRU) and relevant staff within the Central and Regional Office. Student Support Services (DET)
The role of the Student Support Services (SSS) is to provide support to Victorian Government schools including:
Legal Division (DET)
The Department's Legal Division provides specific advice to government school Principals in relation to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse. |
Regional Office (DET)
Principals of Victorian government schools are required to maintain on-going contact with their Regional Office throughout any incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse. Each region has an emergency management contact/s. These officers can provide initial advice and support to Victorian government schools during and after incidents, and assists schools to minimise the effects of trauma and enhance recovery. Employee Conduct Branch (DET)
The Employee Conduct Branch is responsible for the implementation of policy and the provision of advice on complaint resolution procedures, unsatisfactory performance, serious misconduct (which would include allegations of child abuse), equal opportunity complaints, managing appeals against disciplinary action, criminal records checks and police liaison, as it relates to Victorian Government school and DET employees. The branch also manages discipline matters involving members of the teaching service (including Principal Class Officers), Student Support Services and public servants. A key role of the branch is to support Principals or designated officers in their management of processes, and provide advice to them concerning legislative and procedural frameworks. The Employee Conduct Branch must be contacted on all issues of alleged serious misconduct including allegations of child abuse and grooming which involve a staff member employed by the Department. This includes teachers and Principals. Communications Division (DET)
The Department's Communications Division manages all Departmental media liaison, and can support Principals of Victorian government schools in responding to media enquiries relating to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse. |
Student Incident and Recovery Unit (DET)
The Student Incident and Recovery Unit (SIRU) works with Victorian Government schools following incidents of a sexual nature to ensure appropriate advice and supports are in place that prioritise the health and wellbeing of the children involved. The SIRU is notified by the Security Services Unit as soon as an incident involving sexual abuse (or problem sexual behaviour) is reported. The SIRU will:
The SIRU works closely with other key agencies, such as Victoria Police SOCIT and the DHHS, and with organisations such as the Centre against Sexual Assault (CASA) to support student wellbeing in Victorian Government schools. |
Other Agencies
DHHS Child Protection
Under the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has a responsibility to provide child protection services for all children and young people under the age of 17 years, or where a protection order is in place, for children under the age of 18. The main functions of DHHS Child Protection are to:
Centre Against Sexual Assault
There are fifteen Centres Against Sexual Assault, who work to ensure that women, children and men who are victim/survivors of sexual offending have access to comprehensive and timely support and intervention to address their needs. http://www.casa.org.au/ Phone: 1800 806 292 Australian Childhood Foundation
Provide recognised programs that counsel and support children to recovery, help professionals who work with children to better support at risk children and raise awareness of the causes and consequences of abuse. http://www.childhood.org.au/home/ Phone: 1800 176 453 headspace
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young peoples’ wellbeing. This covers four core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services. Information and services for young people, their families and friends as well as health professionals can be accessed through this website, headspace centres, online counselling service eheadspace, and postvention suicide support program headspace School Support. http://headspace.org.au/ |
Child FIRST
Child and Family Information, Referral and Support Teams (Child FIRST) were introduced to give families an opportunity to obtain family services earlier at their own request or following a referral from others, including school staff. Child FIRST is staffed by family services practitioners who are experienced in assessing the needs of vulnerable children and their families. Child FIRST teams work closely with community-based DHHS Child Protection workers. The role of Child FIRST includes:
Gatehouse Centre, Royal Children's Hospital
Provides support and assistance to children and young people affected by sexual offending or problem sexual behaviours http://ww2.rch.org.au/gatehouse/index.cfm?doc_id=1151 Children's Protection Society
Provide advice and support to children and families to help them break out of the cycle of abuse, neglect, poverty and disadvantage through a creative portfolio of programs, resources and services. http://www.cps.org.au/ Phone: (03) 9450 0900 Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Co-operative Limited provides legal advice and representation for the Koorie community http://www.vals.org.au Phone: (03) 9322 3555 or country toll free on 1800 015 188 Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services
Provides assistance to victims of family violence and sexual offending and to work with families and communities affected by violence. http://www.fvpls.org/ |
Victoria Police
Both DHHS and Victoria Police have statutory responsibilities under the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 in relation to the protection of children. DHHS Child Protection is the lead agency responsible for the care and protection of children, while Victoria Police is responsible for criminal investigations into alleged child abuse. Members of Victoria Police are protective interveners and mandatory reporters under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005. The predominant role of police in child abuse incidents is to detect and investigate alleged child physical and sexual abuse and to initiate legal proceedings where appropriate, against the alleged offender/s. The key responsibilities of Victoria Police in relation to child abuse are to:
Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) have been established to ensure that appropriately trained and qualified police officers are available to respond to and investigate allegations of child abuse and sexual offences. Child Wise
Child Wise is Australia's leading international child protection charity committed to the prevention and reduction of sexual abuse and exploitation of children around the world. http://www.childwise.org.au/ Phone: (03) 9695 8900 |