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Appendix 1: Who can become a Child Link Authoriser or User?

This appendix sets out which roles are eligible to become Authorisers and Users, as well as the maximum number of Users, for each workforce.

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Child Protection

Roles of Authorisers Senior roles within Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), for example, CPP5 or CYF5 and abovePrincipal officers of Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) providersChief executive officers of community service organisations (CSOs) and out of home care servicesPrincipal officers of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs)
Roles of Users Roles within DFFHRoles within ACAC providersRoles within CSOs, out of home care services and ACCOs.Common Child Protection roles (Child Protection Level 3 and above) include: Child Protection PractitionerSenior Child Protection PractitionerAdvanced Child Protection Practitioner.
Maximum number of Users No maximum number for DFFH employees and ACAC providersMaximum 2 staff Users per service for CSOs, out of home care services and ACCOs.
Purpose for accessing Child Link For the performance of the Secretary to DFFH’s functions, and the exercise of the Secretary’s powers, under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.For the performance of any functions or exercise of powers as authorised from the Secretary to DFFH (for ACAC providers)For the performance of case management functions for children subject to a protection order or permanent care order (for CSOs, out of home care services and ACCOs)Examples include:to support the process of intake, investigation and/or case management for children known to child protection by using Child Link to corroborate information provided by the family and other services and prioritise the order of who to contact and the urgency of casesidentifying information about a child’s living arrangements to better understand the history of a child and their siblings.

Department of Education regional services and programs

Roles of Authorisers Area based role: Area Executive DirectorsRegion wide: Executive Director of School Support
Roles of Users Eligible roles have been identified and will be reviewed over time.For example, roles responsible for child wellbeing and safety, such as:LOOKOUTNavigatorStudent Support Servicesschool nursesKoorie workforces.
Maximum number of Users No maximum number
Purpose for accessing Child Link For the purpose of identifying children who are not participating in services for which they may be eligible and to assist in the provision of education, care, and services to those children.For example: to support enrolment and participation of a child at risk of or disengaged from learning.

Early Childhood Education

Roles of Authorisers The approved provider of the education and care service. This role can be delegated in writing to roles that have management responsibilities within the organisation and oversight in relation to the selected Child Link Users in the participating service or services.Examples of appropriate roles include:CEOservice owner or operatormanaging directorearly years managerleader of pedagogy or educationlead coordinator of children’s services.
Roles of Users Registered early childhood teachersNominated supervisor
Maximum number of Users Maximum 3 Teacher Users per serviceMaximum 1 nominated supervisor per service
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the education and care service.For example:to gather information to form a holistic assessment about a child’s wellbeing and safetyto facilitate the development of transition statements for children moving from funded kindergarten services to schools.

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) (council-based)

Note: council-based services include:

Roles of Authorisers CEO of the council (can be delegated by the CEO through an instrument of delegation).Examples of appropriate roles include:Early Years managerMCH coordinator.
Roles of Users MCH nurses
Maximum number of Users No maximum number
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide care and services to children attending the MCH service.For example: to identify additional supports a child may be eligible forto gather more background information about a child prior to MCH appointments to assist with thorough risk assessments and planning strategies.

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) (non-council based)

Roles of Authorisers The person who has overall management and control of the service. Each organisation determines the person.We strongly recommend that the Authoriser should be in direct supervision of the most senior MCH nurse manager or coordinator. This could be a director or senior manager. This person should directly know the staff delivering the MCH service.
Roles of Users Roles within:Aboriginal-led MCH servicescommunity health organisations delivering MCH services.Examples include:MCH nurses.
Maximum number of Users No maximum number
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide care and services to children attending the Maternal and Child Health services.For example:to identify additional supports a child may be eligible forto gather more background information about a child prior to MCH appointments to assist with thorough risk assessments and planning strategies.

Schools (Catholic)

Roles of Authorisers Principals, including acting principals or co-principals.
Roles of Users Professionals with responsibility for child wellbeing and safety, such as:deputy principals or other school leadersteaching staffwellbeing professionalsprincipals.Note: Catholic school principals will be authorised by their Diocese.
Maximum number of Users Maximum 7 Users per school plus the principal.Note: if a school has multiple campuses, the limit is 7 Users for the whole school plus the principal.
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the school.To monitor and plan services for children enrolled at school.For example:to gather more information to better support learning and development for a child enrolled at schoolto better enable the school to contact relevant services involved with the child to request information and to perform their duty of care.

Schools (government)

Roles of Authorisers Principals, including acting principals or co-principals.
Roles of Users Professionals with responsibility for child wellbeing and safety, such as:assistant principals or other school leadersyear-level coordinatorsteaching staffwellbeing professionalseducation support staffprincipals.Note: Government school principals in government schools will be authorised by their region’s HR contact (Principal Employment Coordinator).
Maximum number of Users Maximum 7 Users per school plus the principal.Note: if a school has multiple campuses, the limit is 7 Users for the whole school plus the principal.
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the schoolTo monitor and plan services for children enrolled at school.For example:to gather more information to better support learning and development for a child enrolled at schoolto better enable the school to contact relevant services involved with the child to request information and to perform their duty of care.

Schools (independent)

Roles of Authorisers Principals, including acting principals or co-principals, or the person in charge of the school.
Roles of Users Professionals with responsibility for child wellbeing and safety, such as:deputy principalsyear-level coordinatorsteaching staffwellbeing professionalsprincipal OR the person in charge of a school.Note: The principal or person in charge of an independent school will be authorised by an appropriate member of their governing body, such as the school board.
Maximum number of Users Maximum 7 Users per school plus the principal (or the person in charge who is an Authoriser).Note: if schools have multiple campuses, the limit is still 7 Users for the whole school plus the principal (or person in charge of the school).
Purpose for accessing Child Link To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the schoolTo monitor and plan services for children enrolled at school.For example:to gather more information to better support learning and development for a child enrolled at schoolto better enable the school to contact relevant services involved with the child to request information and to perform their duty of care.

Updated 27 March 2026

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