Report a Child Safety Concern

Reporting child abuse is the first step in helping children, young people and families who experience abuse and neglect. 

The 4 R's of child safety offer a guide for how to report child abuse:

  • Recognise: Identify signs of abuse or potential risks to a child's welfare.
  • Record: Document all observations and disclosures thoroughly and confidentially (who, what, when, where).
  • Respond: Stay calm, assess immediate danger, listen, and follow established policies and procedures
  • Refer: Escalate the concern to the appropriate authorities (like police or child protection services) or relevant support services.

If a child's or young person’s immediate safety is compromised or they are in immediate risk of danger or harm, please call the Police on 000 (triple zero)

If you believe a child or young person is in need of protection, contact Child Protection on 1300 360 452 or 13 12 78 after hours.

Concerns about Misconduct at Whitehorse City Council

If you have concerns about the safety, wellbeing or conduct involving a child or young person at Whitehorse City Council, we encourage you to report it.

This includes concerns about the behaviour of a Council employee, volunteer, contractor, or anyone working in a Council service, program or facility.

Contact Whitehorse City Council

You can report a concern by contacting us:

If you require language support, you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450.

Report to an External Authority

You can also report concerns directly to the Social Services Regulator (SSR), the independent regulator responsible for overseeing the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme in Victoria.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme applies to allegations of child abuse involving employees, volunteers, or contractors.

You can contact the Social Services Regulator via:

All concerns and reports are taken seriously and handled in line with our legal obligations under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Where there is an immediate risk to a child or young person, please call 000.

We support and protect anyone who raises a concern in good faith. Your report can be made confidentially.

Feedback and Complaints

If your concern relates to general feedback or complaints (not specifically about child safety conduct), please visit our Feedback, Compliments and Complaints page.

This includes:

  • A complaint about a Council service, program or event
  • A complaint about how a previous concern or report was handled
  • Concerns about the behaviour of a child or young person at a Council service, program or event
  • General concerns about the safety of a group of children or young people at a Council service, program or event.


We encourage children, young people, and their families to raise any child safety concerns with us. Anyone can report child safety concerns to us in these ways:

  • In person: Visit Customer Service at Whitehorse City Council, 379-399 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading Victoria 3131, Australia
  • Phone: Call Customer Service on (03) 9262 6333 and ask to speak with a Child Safety Officer
  • Email: childsafety@whitehorse.vic.gov.au


This video explains how a child or young person can make a complaint about a Council service, program, event or place. 

 

 

 

Poster about the Child Safe Reporting process