Criminology Research Council grant ; (9/01-02)
This study examined the questions of whether professionals charged with caring for children and young people favour mandatory reporting of child physical and sexual abuse and whether professionals perceive conflicts between their obligations to report abuse and their professional concern to support families. This survey of 452 Victorian professionals, including mandated doctors, nurses, teachers and psychiatrists and non-mandated psychologists, social workers and childcare workers, established general support for mandatory reporting. Many professionals consult with one another over the decision of whether to report suspected child abuse to authorities, and most counsel one another to report. However, one-fifth reported that on occasion they have chosen not to report child abuse. Reasons for under-reporting relate to perceived necessity to establish conclusive proof of abuse, a lack of confidence in the child protection system and fear of damage to their supportive relationship with the child's family. This study also discovered that more experienced professionals may only report those cases which they believe will trigger action by child protection services.