Mandatory reporting of child maltreatment by paramedics: a healthcare perspective

Child maltreatment is widespread across Australia and is a significant healthcare issue for children and the community. Mandatory reporting of child maltreatment by key community professionals is an important tool to identify child maltreatment in the community so these children can be supported and, if necessary, removed from harm. Child protection legislation across Australia’s state and territories provides obligations on community professionals, including first responders, to report reasonable suspicions that a child is suffering harm or is at risk of suffering harm. However, mandatory reporting obligations do not always apply to paramedics. Paramedics provide a unique opportunity to identify instances of child maltreatment because they observe children in their home environment and treat them in urgent healthcare situations. This paper will consider: how mandatory reporting of child maltreatment is a healthcare issue; why mandatory reporting is used in Australia for child protection; the discrepancies in mandatory reporting laws across the Australian jurisdictions; and whether paramedics should have mandatory reporting obligations. The analysis raises relevant legal and ethical issues for children’s healthcare.