Responding to concerns about the wellbeing of a child

Regardless of the suspected cause, all concerns about the wellbeing of a child (or an unborn child) should be taken seriously and acted upon.

Overview

Regardless of the suspected cause, all concerns about the wellbeing of a child (or an unborn child) should be taken seriously and acted upon. This includes concerns about the wellbeing of a child, which does not appear to be the result of abuse.

In addition to reporting and referring wellbeing concerns to relevant authorities, you also have a duty of care to ensure that children feel safe and supported at your service. For more information, visit Report child abuse action 4 - Providing ongoing support.

This section will support you to determine how to respond to concerns about the wellbeing of a child which do not appear to be the result of child abuse.

When to report wellbeing concerns to Child FIRST

Child FIRST (Family Information, Referral and Support Team) is a community-based referral point into Family Services.

In addition to reporting suspected abuse to appropriate authorities, you should make a referral to Child FIRST if:

you have a significant concern for a child’s wellbeing
your concerns have a low-to-moderate impact on the child
the child’s immediate safety is not compromised
you or your service has discussed the referral with the family and they are supportive of it.

Examples of concerns that you should reported to Child FIRST include instances when a child’s care or development is significantly impacted on by:

parents who lack the skills to support their child’s physical, emotional and cognitive development
family conflict or family breakdown
pressure due to a family member’s physical or mental illness, substance abuse, or disability
vulnerability due to youth, isolation or lack of support
significant social or economic disadvantage.

When to report wellbeing concerns to Victoria Police

In addition to reporting suspected abuse to appropriate authorities, you must contact Victoria Police on 000 if the:

child’s immediate safety is compromised
child is partaking in any risk taking activity that is illegal and extreme in nature or poses a high risk to their safety, or the safety of somebody else.

When to report wellbeing concerns to DFFH Child Protection

In addition to reporting suspected abuse to appropriate authorities, you should contact the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Child Protection if you have significant protective concerns for the wellbeing of a child, but the parents are unable or unwilling to address or resolve these concerns.

This includes all concerns that:

have a serious impact on a child’s safety, stability or development (including abandonment, death or incapacity, extreme risk-taking behaviour, or harm to an unborn child (see other reports to DFFH Child Protection listed below)
are persistent and entrenched and likely to have a serious impact on a child’s safety, stability or development
relate to a parent who cannot or will not protect the child from significant harm
include a belief that the family is likely to be uncooperative in seeking assistance.

Common grounds for protection

Abandonment

The child’s parents have abandoned the child and after reasonable inquiries, the parents cannot be found, and no other suitable person can be found who is willing and able to care for the child.

Death or incapacity of parent or carer

The child’s parents are dead or incapacitated and there is no other suitable person willing and able to care for the child.

Extreme risk-taking behaviour (in children up to 13 years of age)

The child is displaying extreme risk taking behaviour, which has potentially severe or life threatening consequences. Examples include severe alcohol or drug use; unsafe sexual activity including prostitution; solvent abuse and chroming, and violent or dangerous peer group activity.

In addition to contacting DFFH Child Protection it may also be necessary to contact Victoria Police when the risk taking activity is illegal and extreme in nature or poses a high risk to the child.

Harm to an unborn child

There is a threat of harm to an unborn child, including circumstances where a parent has previously demonstrated an inability to safely parent.

The Children Youth and Families Act 2005 allows DFFH Child Protection to receive and respond to reports about an unborn child, which provides an important opportunity for earlier intervention and prevention.

Prenatal reports may be particularly helpful to the unborn child in family violence situations, or where there are mental health concerns or drug or alcohol misuse during pregnancy.

Early childhood education and care

Updated 25 March 2026

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Responding to concerns about the wellbeing of a child

On this page

Overview

When to report wellbeing concerns to Child FIRST

When to report wellbeing concerns to Victoria Police

When to report wellbeing concerns to DFFH Child Protection

Common grounds for protection

Abandonment

Death or incapacity of parent or carer

Extreme risk-taking behaviour (in children up to 13 years of age)

Harm to an unborn child

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