New ACT Reporting Child Abuse Laws

30 AUGUST 2019

New laws about Reporting Child Abuse in the ACT that come into effect on 1 September 2019.

From Sunday 1 September, a mandatory obligation requires any person over the age of 18 in the ACT who reasonably believes a sexual offence has been committed against a child or young person under 18 at the time the offence was committed to make a report to police.

It is important to note that this legal obligation is contained in the Crimes Act and has a strict liability offence attached to it. Girl Guides policies and procedures do not override the law and must run parallel to legal obligations.

Girl Guide reporting should be done as an urgent priority but not so the report to the Police is delayed in a way that could compromise child safety.

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