Reporting a Concern or Suspected Harm
Mandatory Reporting
Homestay Providers must notify the College immediately if:
Providers suspect or become aware that a student (of any age) has been harmed, or is at risk of harm;
a student reports to a Provider that he/she or any other student has been harmed, or is at risk of harm; or
Failure to report sexual offences against children
Source: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sexual-offences-against-children/failure-to-report (please follow link for more information)
The law has been strengthened to improve the protection of children from offences of a sexual nature.
Previously only certain adults had legal obligations to report suspected harm to children (including suspected sexual abuse).
From 5 July 2021, it is an offence for any adult not to report sexual offending against a child by another adult to police. This means all adults have the responsibility to report sexual offences against children to police—unless they have a reasonable excuse not to.
For this law, a child means a person under 16 or a person under 18 with an impairment of the mind.
Failure to report
The failure to report laws apply to everyone over 18 (i.e. all adults).
If an adult reasonably believes (or should reasonably believe) that a child is being or has been the victim of sexual abuse by another adult, they must report it to the police—unless they have a reasonable excuse.