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Home » Families and young people » Protecting children » Reporting child abuse
The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Families SA, including the child protection and family support functions, is now part of the new Department for Education and Child Development. Youth Justice remains with DCSI and the Department now includes  Multicultural SA, Northern Connections, Office for the Southern Suburbs, Office for Volunteers, Office for Women, Office for Youth and Social Inclusion. Contact details for these offices are available on the Contacts page.

The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates are in progress. Departmental information can still be found using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

 

Reporting child abuse

Last Updated Jan 2009

This area of our site is to help you with the challenging task of reporting child abuse and neglect.
Please also remember that there may be things that you can do to work with high needs families which can support them to stay out of the child protection system and to enhance the well being of children and meet your duty of care to children and families.

Facts

  • The legal age of consent in South Australia is 17 years of age for both boys and girls in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
  • There is no legal age for a child to be left alone and an assessment is made on a case by case basis depending on a number of factors, such as the age and maturity of the child and the impact on the child.
  • The number of children being abused and neglected is increasing.
  • The age of criminal responsibility is 10 years of age.

Frequently asked questions