Protecting children report

1 April 2015

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has highlighted the important role of paediatricians in protecting children from potential harm in the context of their families.

The report, ‘Protecting Children is Everybody’s Business’, outlines the importance of paediatricians in identifying vulnerability in children and interventions that will protect them from harm. In such situations protection is possible without statutory intervention.

Dr Terry Donald said the position statement will assist Australian and New Zealand paediatricians in their assessment and protection of children during critical stages of the children’s lives.

Specific guidance is provided in the statement to paediatricians’ involvement across the spectrum of child protection, recognising that their role and responsibilities vary and not all paediatricians will require training for statutory child protection work.

“It is important that paediatricians recognise the importance of primary and secondary child protection intervention early on, in addition to at the tertiary level. Early recognition will allow them to initiate interventions before any abuse to the child occurs.

“The Position Statement also highlights the importance of the statutory child protection system to protect children from further harm,” Dr Donald said.
The report will be included in the RACP’s submission to the National Framework for Protecting Children.

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