If you believe that a child is in immediate harm, contact
- the police on 000 (Triple Zero) or
- Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123
This page provides directions on how to contact the Department of Justice to report allegations of child abuse by employees, contractors, consultants and volunteers in the Department.
If you want to learn more about the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme, you can read an overview of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework on this website.
Reportable Conduct Scheme
From 1 January 2024, the Reportable Conduct Scheme imposes new obligations on the Department to have systems in place to prevent child abuse, and if child abuse is alleged, to ensure those allegations can be brought to the attention of appropriate persons for investigation and response.
The Department must also notify the Independent Regulator of allegations of child abuse (and other child-related misconduct).
What can be reported?
Reportable conduct includes any of the following:
- a sexual offence committed against, with or in the presence of a child, whether or not a criminal proceeding in relation to the offence has been commenced or concluded
- sexual misconduct, committed against, with or in the presence of a child
- physical violence, committed against, with or in the presence of a child
- any behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child, or
- significant neglect of a child.
Making an allegation of reportable misconduct
An allegation of reportable conduct can be made about any person over 18 years of age who is an employee, contractor, consultant and volunteer of the Department even if:
- they don’t have direct contact with children as part of their work
- the conduct occurred outside of their work.
Notifying the Department about reportable misconduct
You can notify reportable conduct to the Department:
- by phone: (03) 6165 3405
- by email: secretary@justice.tas.gov.au
The Department treats all allegations very seriously and will endeavour to respond to all allegations as soon as possible. When an allegation is made via email, the sender will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the allegation by the Department.
Should an acknowledgement email not be received within one day of submitting an allegation, the sender is encouraged to contact the Department on (03) 6165 3405.
Make a complaint as a Child or Young Person
As a child or young person you can tell us if you are worried about:
- your safety
- the safety of another young person; or
- any other complaint about the Department of Justice.
We will take you seriously. If you need help filling out this form you can give us a call on (03) 6165 3405
Child and Youth-Friendly Complaint Form (PDF, 149.2 KB)
Policies and Procedures
We are developing our policies and procedures to support how we deal with notifications of Reportable Conduct. We will be consulting with children and young people, and others, on these policies and procedures early in 2024. Once our policies and procedures have been finalised, you will be able to find them here.