Child Safety

The City of Ballarat is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse and harm.  

We are committed to providing an environment and culture that promotes the safety, health and well-being of children and young people and which provides a voice to all children, including those from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, with disabilities and from culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Emergencies:

If a child or young person is in immediate danger call 000 and ask for the police.

• Where you have immediate concerns about the safety of a child or young person contact the State Government Child Protection services 
  • 1300 664 977 Monday to Friday 8:45am to 5:00pm 
  • 13 12 78 Monday to Friday 5:00pm to 9:00am and 24 hours on weekends and Public Holidays 

City of Ballarat reporting:

We encourage children, young people and their families to speak up if they are worried about a child safe concern. Children and young people might like to get support from someone they trust like a family member, friend or another adult that helps them feel safe.  A support person can be with the child or young person, or they can speak up for them when they raise a child safe concern.

A child safe concern can be reported these ways:

• In person: Visit Customer Service at The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South, Ballarat
• By phone: Call Customer Service on 5320 5500 and ask to speak with a Child Safe Officer
• By email: childsafe@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Download and print: Child Safety Incident report Form - return details are included at the bottom of the form

Child abuse is defined as an act (or series of acts) that endangers a child or young persons physical or emotional and development. It may include:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Grooming
• Neglect
• Family Violence

All adults in Victoria have a responsibility to report if they know or suspect that a child is being abused.

We all have a role to play in keeping children and young people safe from abuse and harm. If you suspect or know a child or young person is being abused, you must report it.

The failure to disclose offence applies to all adults in Victoria. 

Any adult who has a reasonable belief that an adult has committed a sexual offence against a child under 16 years of age has an obligation to report that information to the police by calling:

• Emergency 000 if a child is in immediate danger or 
• Ballarat Police Station 5336 6000 if a child isn’t in immediate danger

• Reporting child abuse is the important first step in helping children and young people who are experiencing abuse and neglect.
• Child abuse can have a devastating impact on the lives of children and young people and failing to report means that the child or young person could continue to experience abuse.
• Taking action ensures that children, young people and families get the help and support they need.
• When concerns, disclosures or allegations are not acted upon, the perpetrator can keep abusing children and may move from organisation to organisation, community to community or continue to abuse within their own family. 

• Department of Families Fairness and Housing Ballarat
• Orange Door Central Highlands
• View the Ballarat City Council Child Safe Policy
• View the Commission For Children And Young People; The 11 Child Safe Standards