If you are concerned that an individual or an organisation is not acting in the best interests of the children they are providing services for, there are a number of things you can do.
Concerns about an organisation or service
If you are concerned about the care or service being provided to your child, the first thing to do is raise it with that organisation.
Organisations that provide services to children should be open to receiving feedback, and want to improve. They should have a policy on how they handle allegations and concerns.
If you are not happy with the response of the organisation, then you may wish to report your concern.
Concerns about an individual child
The Office of the Children's Guardian does not deal directly with complaints or concerns about risk of harm to individual children.
If you think a child or young person is at risk of harm from abuse or neglect, contact the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 (TTY 1800 212 936), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For complaints or concerns about an NDIS provider, contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 is a free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Concerned a service for children is not meeting the Child Safe Standards
The Child Safe Scheme launched on 1 February 2022. Most organisations that provide services to children are covered by the Scheme.
A founding principle of the Scheme is that organisations work to continually improve their child safe culture. Raising concerns and providing feedback should be welcomed.
If you have concerns about a service being provided to children and young people, the first thing to do is raise it with that organisation. They should have a policy on how they handle your feedback or concern.
If, after speaking with the organisation, you still have concerns, then you can report them. Where your concern comes under the Child Safe Scheme we will take a capability building approach with the organisation.
Concern regarding the Working with Children Check
This form can be used to report the Office of the Children's Guardian concerns about an individual or an organisation that you believe is not meeting Working with Children Check obligations. This could include:
- A person is working in child-related work without a Working with Children Check
- A person is barred and is continuing to work in child-related work
- An organisation is not removing barred or interim barred workers from child-related work
- An organisation is not ensuring child-related workers have a Working with Children Check
Report a concern about a child working in entertainment or modelling
You can report any unauthorised employment of a child in entertainment or register a concern you have about a child’s employment. Reporting can be anonymous, however providing contact details will help us if we need further information. Your details will be kept confidential. You can also contact the children's employment team by phone on (02) 8219 3797, or email kidsemployment@ocg.nsw.gov.au.
If you have reason to believe a child is at risk of harm please report this to us.
Risks to children we wish to mitigate include:
- Sexual abuse
- Physical harm
- Psychological harm
- Exposure to adult themes or concepts
- Exploitation through excessive work hours
- Educational neglect
- Employment where the employer does not hold a current employer authority.
