Child protection and care

Child abuse refers to significant harm or injury to a child that is not caused by an accident.

It can be caused by:

• the actions or behaviour of:
  • a parent
  • a person with parental responsibility
  • a person known to the child
• a parent's failure to protect a child from being abused or neglected
• repeated abusive or neglectful events that happen over time.

Harm can be one or more of the following types.

Physical harm

This refers to physical injuries that are not accidental - or where there is significant risk of injury happening - due to the actions or lack of action of a parent or caregiver.

Sexual harm

This happens when any sexual activity involves a child, or sexual threats are made to a child.

It can include encouraging a child or young person to do, watch, or hear something sexually explicit.

Emotional harm

This happens when the behaviour or attitude of a parent or caregiver towards a child negatively affects (or could affect) the child's social, emotional or developmental growth.

It includes failure to provide for the child's:

• emotional needs for nurturing and security
• developmental needs for stimulation and interaction with other people and their environment.

Neglect

This happens when a child's basic necessities of life are not met by their parent or caregiver.

Exposing a child to violence

This includes when a child is living in a home where family or domestic violence happening.

When a child or young person tells you something about being harmed, it's important to give them your full attention - without making them feel scared, or to feel they have done something wrong.

They may have deliberately decided to tell you, or the information may come out accidentally.

You may feel disgust, sadness, anger or sometimes disbelief.

Remember, these are your feelings and the child has their own.

You need to put your emotions to one side and be there for the child.

When a child talks about abuse

When a child or young person talks about being abused they may:

• feel confused, scared, guilty, ashamed, sad, angry or powerless
• not understand that their caregiver's behaviour may be abusive
• believe they are responsible for the abuse
• want to protect the person responsible - and be frightened for them
• want to protect family or their own reputation
• have been threatened with more harm to themselves or others if they tell someone.

If a child talks to you about being abused, you should do the following:

Listen to the child

Be calm, patient and listen supportively to the child - let them use their own words and don't interrupt them. Respond sensitively and don't judge.

Reassure them

Help the child or young person feel safe to talk. Reassure them the abuse is not their fault.

Respect them

Respect the fact the child may only tell you some details. Acknowledge their bravery and strength. Don't make promises you can't keep.

Don't ask them lots of questions - leave the investigating and fact finding to trained people.

Tell the child that you will need to talk to someone whose job it is to keep them safe.

You should then make a report.

An AIS can share information with another AIS.

These include:

• registered foster carers
• public sector staff including CEOs or contractors engaged by a government agency who:
  • are acting under an NT law in relation to a child and
  • provide a service for or in connection with children
• police officers
• school principals
• registered or authorised teachers
• staff of non-government organisations (NGOs) who:
  • receive Australian or NT Government funding to provide a service for children
  • provide drug or alcohol treatment
• doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health professionals registered and practicing under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (other than students)
• lawyers
• individuals or organisations who provide services to people with disabilities.

You can only share information if it relates to the child's safety and wellbeing.

This can include details of the child’s:

• current care arrangements
• relationships or issues with family members and anyone posing a risk to them
• health and treatment needs such as allergies and dietary requirements
• psychological, behavioural, emotional, or physical difficulties and disabilities
• educational, developmental, religious or cultural needs
• parents mental health, substance misuse, disability or history of domestic violence.

You should not share information if you believe it could:

• negatively impact:
  • a coronial inquest or inquiry
  • an investigation into an offence committed in the NT
• go against the privacy rules that exist between lawyers and their clients
• confirm the existence or identity of a confidential source of information in relation to law enforcement
• put a person's life in danger or put their physical safety at risk.

These guidelines outline the information sharing framework in relation to child safety and wellbeing in the NT.

They can help and guide an AIS:

• to understand their obligations
• to establish efficient and collaborative information sharing relationships with one another.
• with factors that should be considered as a ‘reasonable belief’ for the purposes of information sharing
• when they should get consent from a child, young person or family member before sharing information.

Read the information sharing guidelines PDF (347.0 KB).

If you're an AIS, you can use and adapt these letter templates when requesting information or responding to information requests:

• request for information sharing DOCX (22.8 KB)
• positive response to request for information sharing DOCX (23.6 KB)
• provision of information to an information sharing authority without a request DOCX (25.6 KB)
• decline request for information sharing DOCX (22.9 KB).

Sometimes a child's parent or caregiver is not able to provide the care and protection the child needs to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

When there are concerns for a child's safety, the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities can place the child in a safe environment for a period of time while the situation is assessed.

They can also apply to the court for a protection order to place the child with a carer for a longer period of time.

Carers play an important role in the lives of children and young people while they are in care.

As a carer you will help make sure a child's developmental, health and emotional needs are met at a time when they are most vulnerable. You can help them to become a strong and resilient young person.

As a kinship or family carer you:

• will be be related in some way to the young person in your care
• will provide an environment where family, community and culture are valued and central to the child's safety, stability and development.

To find out more read the following:

• carer information brochure PDF (1.2 MB)
• guide for carers PDF (5.1 MB).
• Territory Families carer payment rates.

Carers are needed to provide the following types of care.

Emergency care

Children may need emergency care when there are concerns for their immediate safety. Emergency placements can happen at any time - during the working day, in the evening or on weekends.

Emergency carers need to be ready to look after a child of any age at short notice and at different times of the day and night.

Respite care

Respite carers can provide short-term respite care for children who are normally placed with other carers. This can be for short periods of time like school holidays, weekends or a few hours during the week.

Respite care is usually planned and can be scheduled in advance.

Ongoing care

Under a court order children may be placed with a carer for a few months or longer.

The immediate focus of a placement is to help children return home to their parents or extended families, or to ongoing care within the community they have been brought up in.

A longer-term placement may be needed to provide for the ongoing safety and stability of a child when they are unable to return home.

Anyone can be a carer in the NT.

Carers can be:

• single or married, or in a de facto relationship including a same-sex relationship
• people who have their own children or people who don't have children
• anyone over 18 years of age
• renting or owning their own home
• working part-time, full-time or not at all.

You might be suited to be a carer if you:

• are patient - foster children are often going through difficult times and need lots of understanding
• are willing to work with others and follow a plan set by the child's caseworker
• relate well to children and young people
• have room for an extra person in your home
• are willing to offer support to a young person and protect them from harm
• can provide a healthy and caring environment.

You could be suited to being a family or kinship carer if you are also related to a child in care through blood, marriage, kin, or cultural relationships.

Apply to be a carer online or by email, mail or phone.

Online

Apply through CARE Services. This is the preferred option.

You will be contacted to discuss your application.

Email or mail

Fill in a carer expression of interest form.

Carer expression of interest form PDF (112.7 KB)
Carer expression of interest form DOCX (59.3 KB)

Email or mail your form to:

Territory Families, Housing and Communities - Operational Support (TFHC)
PO Box 37037
Winnellie NT 0821
becomeacarer@nt.gov.au

Phone

Call 1800 FOSTER (1800 367 837) and get help with completing the form.