Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in Western Australia is governed by the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (the Act). In October 2021 the Western Australian Parliament passed the Children and Community Services Amendment Act 2021 to introduce new mandatory reporter groups, including ‘ministers of religion’.
The legal obligation for ministers of religion to report child sexual abuse commenced on 1 November 2022.
All Clergy, Lay Pastoral Ministers (LPMs), Lay Ministers and Lay Chaplains are required to complete Mandatory Reporting Training online which provides a foundation to recognise and report a belief, based on reasonable grounds, that a child has been or is continuing to be sexually abused.
The National Church introduced canons, including the Safe Ministry to Children Canon, concerning confession relating to child sexual abuse which was adopted by the Perth Synod in October 2018.
We acknowledge that there is a primary need to respond to allegations of child sexual abuse or sexual misconduct with compassion and empathy. If you have any concerns or issues from what you may have witnessed or heard, please contact:
Safe Ministry Service Manager
Ph: (08) 9425 7200
Email: safeministry@perth.anglican.org
GPO Box W2067, Perth WA 6846
If the abuse is current, please contact:
WA Police on 131 444 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or attend your local Police Station.
You can also report online through the Safe2Say portal
If immediate intervention is required, please contact:
- Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) (08) 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- The Samaritans on (08) 6383 9850
- Kids Help Line (24hr) on 1800 55 1800
- Crisis Care on 1800 199 008