Revision

This section is for Club Reporting Officers and provides assistance for you to successfully complete your annual accreditation.

Accreditation must be done by 30th September each year.

In South Australia all lifesavers who assist with the delivery of under 18 programs are mandated notifiers under the Child Protection Act

A mandated notifier breaks the law if he or she suspects a child has been or is being

 

• Physically abused
• Emotionally abused
• Sexually abused
• Neglected

 

and does not notify an appropriate authority of their suspicions.
The number of the Child Abuse Report Line .. 13 14 78

Types of Abuse:
physical - a physical injury resulting from practices such as hitting, punching, beating or otherwise harming the child/young person
emotional - damage to a child's self esteem or social competence through chronic negative behaviour directed at them
sexual - when someone in a position of power to the child or young person uses their power to involve the child/young person in sexual activity of any nature.
neglect - failing to provide for the child/young person's basic needs, including safety

The word paedophile is a medical term.  It is a mental disorder which means that there is treatment available - but it is also within the mind. We are dealing with a fantasy - psychological not physical.

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF PAEDOPHILES:

• Paedophiles are usually male.
• They gain the trust of the parents - and the child - and are often known to the child, sometimes for a period of time.
• Paedophiles use grooming techniques such as mastering the activity in which there are a lot of children. In surf life saving they are more likely to become coaches, instructors or age group leaders.
• The disturbing fact with paedophiles is that they target the child. In order to obtain the child they will go to great lengths to learn all there is about the child, parents and the organisation.

TARGETS:

• Children who feel unloved.
• They may be from single parent families or families where both parents are working and don't have time to spend with the child.
• They could be very rich or very poor.  
• Kids least likely to tell. There are any number of reasons why a child may not tell. They may be handicapped, it could be a child who often tell lies, one who is usually quiet or withdrawn, or emotionally immature.
• There could be threats … such as dropping them from a special group.
• There could be threats of violence such as I will kill your dog, or I will hurt your parents.

TYPES OF PAEDOPHILE:
SITUATIONAL paedophiles are Generally intra-familial child molesters and offend for varied and often complicated reasons, with no age or sex preference.

However PREFERENTIAL paedophiles target children as a sexual preference. They usually have a sex and/or age preference and quite they often operate in rings.

SOME INDICATORS OF CHILD ABUSE

• Lack of concentration
• Verbal or physical violence
• Sexually inappropriate behaviour / language
• Inappropriate sexual knowledge for child's age
• Significant change in school performance
• Outside interests may wane
• Onset of bed wetting
• Regressing to infantile/immature behaviour
• Running away
• Self abusive/destructive behaviour

SOME EFFECTS

• Repeated urinary tract infections.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Bruising and tearing of anal/vaginal area due to forced penetration.
• Pregnancy.
• Psychiatric and emotional disorders.
• Long term psychiatric disorders, ie: depression, anorexia, suicidal, drug abuse.
• Disturbed relationships with peer groups and parents.

WHY VICTIMS DO NOT REPORT

• Grooming and seduction techniques.
• Embarrassment, guilt or ashamed.
• Afraid of offender or other consequences.
• Afraid of consequences to the offender.
• Child believes he/she will not be believed but offender will be.
• Reluctance by parents to subject child to criminal justice process.
• Protecting organisations where offender employed.  

REPORTING
URGENT NOTIFICATIONS
Immediately notify the child abuse report line AND the Police

NON URGENT NOTIFICATIONS
Notify the child abuse report line (CARL) on the day of receiving the report.

THE REPORTING BOOK

• Once issued it should stay in your possession until it is completed, or you no longer wish to be a Club Reporting Officer.
• The book should never be left where it can be accessed by anyone, including members of your immediate family.
• It is imperative that the book is filled out correctly because many years down the track it may be used as evidence.
• Once the book is full it should be returned within 7 days to the CEO, SLSSA in a confidential sealed envelope marked "NIPPER SAFE".
• If you no longer wish to serve in the capacity of a CRO then you should return the book (as above) irrespective of how many pages have, or have not been used.
• Note that the particulars of the incident being reported should be completed by the complainant UNLESS there is an acceptable reason (eg cannot read/write). If you need to write it then you must ensure that it is in their words. The complainant should also sign and date their statement.
• It is difficult to take a statement without influencing people and that is why it is better if they write it themselves.
• You must accompany your report/notification with a statement of the observations, information and opinions upon which the suspicion is based.  This must be as stated by the complainant.  It is not recommended that you have input into the thoughts of the complainant.
• It is recommended that you make notes of your observations at the time and record them in the book (and mark the box accordingly).

WHEN DEALING WITH CHILDREN

• Listen to what the child has to say
• Tell the child you believe them
• Assure them it is not their fault and they are not responsible for the abuse
• Let the child know you will be reporting to the relevant authority so that they can help stop the abuse
• Tell them you are pleased they told you

If you suspect abuse, but the child has not told anyone, be aware of the emotional distress that the child may be experiencing.

Approach the child in a caring and sensitive manner and assure them that you are willing to listen and to help if there is a problem.

NEVER make the child feel like you aren't really interested, or that you need to be somewhere else. This will destroy the relationship. And you may only ever get one shot at it.

You will not be helping if

• You make promises that you can't keep such as promising that you will not tell anyone else
• Push the child into giving details
• Discuss the matter with anyone

Your role is to listen to what the child wants to tell you but not to conduct an investigation. Be aware of asking any direct questions of the child as this may prejudice any subsequent investigation.

You do not have to prove the abuse occurred but merely develop a suspicion on reasonable grounds.

If as a result of the complaint having been made, court proceedings result; it must be remembered that you are immune from civil liability for reporting your suspicion in good faith (Section 12 (a) Children's Protection Act 1993).

So that you are not relying on memory down the track, you can make notes in the reporting book. As has been highlighted in the recent past, offences occurring over 20 years ago are being put before the courts. For the victim to be able to have a chance of success, an accurate account of the suspicions held and actions taken by people are vital to the proceedings.

COUNSELLING

From time to time you may have information imparted to you that has a profound affect on your personal being. If this happens to you there are numerous counselling services that are at your disposal, free of charge and you are strongly encouraged to access one of them (through SLSSA, SAPOL or CYFS).

MEDIA

VERY SIMPLE … under no circumstances should you make any comment to the media.