Concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person

What to do if you're worried about a child or young person, including how to identify abuse and neglect.
Last updated: 9 December 2022

I'm worried about a child

Where you can go for help if you’re worried a child is unsafe.

Identifying abuse and neglect

How to recognise different types of child abuse and neglect.

Responding to a child disclosing abuse

What to do when a child or young person tells you that he or she is being abused or neglected.

Reporting abuse

For immediate concerns: If you have a life-threatening concern about a child, contact the police on 000.

Concern for a child's wellbeing: If you are concerned about a child's wellbeing, please contact the Central Intake Team on 1800 273 889.

Crisis Care: Crisis Care provides Western Australia’s after-hours response to reported concerns for a child’s safety and wellbeing and information and referrals for people experiencing crisis.

Professional referrals: If you are a professional and want to report a concern about a child, please use the following link: Professional Referral.

Child protection information requests: If you are a professional and wish to make a request for information related to child protection, please use the following link: Child Protection Information Request.

Mandatory reporting

It is a legal requirement in Western Australia for doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers, police officers, boarding supervisors and ministers of religion to report all reasonable beliefs of child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities.