Reporting obligations

Making a child wellbeing referral

If you apply for ACCS child wellbeing on behalf of a family, you must refer the family to an appropriate support agency. This is a requirement under Family Assistance Law (FAL).

You must make a referral to an appropriate support agency that can provide support to the family. 

You must:

• let them know the child is in need of wellbeing support and that you’ve applied for ACCS child wellbeing.
• make a record of the referral via the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or your third-party software.

You do not need to remain in contact with the support agency.

Support agencies

An appropriate support agency is:

• a state or territory department or agency that deals with matters relating to child welfare, or
• an organisation that deals with such matters on behalf of a state or territory department or agency.

Organisations which deal with such matters on behalf of a state or territory department or agency can include, but are not limited to, the following :

• child safety/protection organisations
• parenting assistance, including Family Support Programs
• interpersonal conflict/separation/mediation services
• child and maternal health services, including antenatal services
• drug or alcohol or substance abuse services
• community health services, including publicly funded general practitioner services (but not private services), mental health services, counselling services, women’s health services, bereavement counselling services (psychology or social work), psychiatric services or palliative care services
• domestic violence, survivor of sexual assault support or other similar support services (including state or territory police)
• homelessness, crisis or public housing services
• financial or gambling counselling services
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and support services
• school readiness programs, school counsellors and other education-related services
• other early intervention services.

Time limits for making a referral

There are time limits for when you must make the referral to the appropriate support agency when issuing a certificate:

• within 6 weeks from when the certificate comes into effect or
• before applying for a determination

We explain certificates and determinations on the following pages.

When you don’t need to make a referral

You do not need to make a referral if:

• you have already made a referral for a child within the last 6 weeks
• you were advised the child was in need of wellbeing support by an appropriate support agency, such as a state or territory child protection agency.

Mandatory reporting

You must also follow any reporting obligations in your state or territory. This is commonly referred to as mandatory reporting.

Making a referral to a support agency is a requirement under FAL. It does not remove any mandatory reporting obligations required by your state or territory government.

Useful links by state and territory

We’ve compiled links to information about mandatory reporting and support agencies in each state and territory for your convenience.

This information is general guidance only. You must stay up to date with the mandatory reporting obligations in your state or territory. You may also identify other appropriate support agencies.

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia