Department of Health

Identifying vulnerable children

Information and resources to support health professionals.

Learning and support for health professionals

Children at Risk Training Portal

Register or log into access free online training and resources to support your understanding and responsibilities to children and young people experiencing vulnerability. The modules aim to help learners build skills to: identify vulnerable children, engage with parents about child vulnerability, respond to suspected abuse or neglect and understand legislated responsibilities, the child protection and family services system.

There are three interactive training modules for health professionals working across Victoria’s health service system. Each module takes approximately one hour to complete:

  • Protecting Children: Introductory course on identifying and responding to child abuse and neglect
  • Responding to vulnerability: A guide for general practitioners
  • Responding to vulnerability: A guide for health and community services providers.

Access free training and resources on protecting vulnerable children:

Visit the portal

Identifying children at risk

Possible indicators of vulnerability, child abuse and neglect

Health professionals need to be able to recognise when children may have been harmed, or at risk of harm. There are many indicators of vulnerability, including physical, emotional or behavioural signals that can point to possible child abuse and neglect.

Resources available that outline possible indicators of trauma and abuse include:

The presence of indicators does not automatically mean the child is at risk of harm. Health professionals should consider these indicators in the context of the family history, and the ability and willingness of the parent or carer to protect the child from harm.

Having conversations with parents and carers about concerns for the safety, health and wellbeing of their children is important to ensure that the best interests of children are promoted.

Ask, Listen, Record and Share

Sharing knowledge, communicating effectively, making decisions together and respecting each other means that we are better able to protect children. If you are concerned that a child may be at risk of abuse always consult and seek advice about your concerns.

AskTo ensure that you have not missed any part of the patients experience that may impact on their health care.
ListenRemain sensitive to the patient’s experience and provide reassurance
RecordEnsure no information is lost and if other professionals are involved, information can be shared.
ShareSharing our expertise, seeking advice, providing information and making decisions together is the best way to protect vulnerable children.

Working with Child Protection factsheets

The following factsheets are available on The Royal Children’s Hospital websiteExternal Link :

Useful resources and training

Reviewed 15 July 2024

Health.vic

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