Recognising when a child may be at risk

Knowing the signs of harm can help you respond to concerns about a child's safety and wellbeing.

This page explains what it means for a child to be at risk, when you should take action, and common signs that may indicate a child needs support or protection.

What does "at risk" mean?

Under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, a child is considered at risk when they have experienced harm, or there is a likelihood they will experience harm, and they are not being adequately protected from it. A child may also be at risk in other situations where their safety, care or wellbeing is seriously affected.

What does "harm" mean?

Harm can be physical or psychological. It may result from a person's actions or from failing to provide the care and support a child needs. Harm can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

Situations where a child may be at risk

Some situations that may place a child at risk include:

Harm or likelihood of harm – they have experienced harm, or there are concerns they may experience harm in the future and are not being protected from it.
Abandonment or inability to care – a parent or guardian:
- is unable or unwilling to care for them
- has abandoned them
- cannot be located
- has died and suitable care arrangements are not available.
Not attending school – they are required to attend school and are regularly absent without a reasonable explanation.
Homelessness – they are homeless or do not have a stable place to live.
Removal for unlawful practices – there are concerns they may be removed from South Australia to:
- undergo a medical procedure that would be unlawful in South Australia, including female genital mutilation
- take part in a marriage that would be invalid under Australian law
- participate in an activity that would be illegal in South Australia.

Signs of domestic and family violence

Domestic and family violence is when someone uses threats, control, violence or abuse to hurt or frighten a family member. Children can be affected even if the violence is not directed at them. Seeing, hearing or living with violence can affect their safety, wellbeing and development.

Domestic and family violence behaviours that may place a child at risk

A child may be at risk of harm when a parent, carer or family member displays behaviours such as:

killed or attempted to kill another household member, used a weapon, or displayed a weapon in a threatening manner
seriously injured a family member, including:
- sexual assault
- fractures
- internal injuries
- disfigurement
- burns
- or any injury that may require hospitalisation
seriously threatened to harm a child, another adult or self, for example:
- a threat to kill self
- commit sexual assault
- kidnap
- hold hostage
- murder
- cause serious injury
- harm a household pet
used excessive discipline and punishment
held a child in their arms, or a child was in close enough proximity to be hurt during the incident, including bruising, cuts, or burns, or other more severe injuries
there is a pattern or disclosure of abusive power and control that prevents one person from making choices for the safety of self, and, or a child.

Find more information about domestic and family violence on the White Ribbon Australia website.

Signs a child may be experiencing domestic and family violence

Children who experience domestic and family violence may show a range of signs. These signs do not always mean family violence is occurring, but they can be a sign that a child needs support. It is important to consider these signs alongside any other concerns about their safety and wellbeing.

Signs of physical harm

Physical harm occurs when a child is seriously hurt, or at risk of being seriously hurt, by a parent or carer. This includes injuries caused on purpose or through harsh punishment.

Examples of physically harmful behaviour

A child may be at risk of physical harm when a parent, carer or family member engages in behaviours such as:

kicking, punching, hitting, for example – with open hands, fists, belts, wooden spoons
shaking – particularly of young babies
burning – immersion in scalding water, cigarette burns, irons
biting
pulling out hair
alcohol or other drug misuse – prescribed and illicit drugs
fabricated or induced illness
female genital mutilation
exposure to extreme temperatures for sufficient duration to cause serious harm
threats to harm or kill a child by parent, carer or other family member.

Signs a child may be experiencing physical harm

Children experiencing physical harm may show physical injuries, changes in behaviour, or both. These signs do not always mean physical harm has occurred, but they may indicate that a child is at risk or needs support. It is important to consider these signs alongside any other concerns about the child's safety and wellbeing.

Signs of neglect

Neglect is when a child does not receive the basic care they need on an ongoing basis. This can affect their health, safety, wellbeing, and development.

Types of neglect

A child may experience different types of neglect:

Supervisory neglect

Supervisory neglect is characterised by absence or inattention and can lead to physical harm or injury, sexual abuse or, in an older child, permitting criminal behaviour. Supervisory neglect includes abandonment where a child is left alone for more than a developmentally appropriate time frame.

Physical neglect

Physical neglect is characterised by the caregiver’s failure to provide basic physical necessities, such as safe, clean and adequate housing, clothing, food and health care.

Medical neglect

Medical neglect is characterised by a caregiver’s failure to provide appropriate medical care. This could occur through a failure to acknowledge the seriousness of an illness or condition, or the deliberate withholding of appropriate care.

Emotional neglect

Emotional neglect is characterised by a lack of caregiver warmth, nurturing, encouragement and support, note – emotional neglect is sometimes considered a form of emotional maltreatment.

Signs a child may be experiencing neglect

Children experiencing neglect may show physical, developmental or behavioural signs. These signs do not always mean neglect is occurring, but they may indicate that a child is not receiving the care and support they need. It is important to consider these signs alongside any other concerns about their safety and wellbeing.

Signs of psychological and emotional harm

Psychological or emotional harm occurs when a child is repeatedly treated in ways that make them feel afraid, worthless, isolated or controlled. This can affect their emotional wellbeing, confidence and development.

Examples of psychologically or emotionally harming behaviour

A child may experience psychological or emotional harm when a parent, carer or family member repeatedly behaves in ways that frighten, reject, isolate, humiliate or exploit them.

Terrorising – threatening or frightening behaviour

Terrorising behaviour may include consistently:

saying things or acting in ways that frighten the child
threatening to harm the child, self, others or pets
deliberately causing a child to witness traumatic events.

Alienation – turning a child against a parent or family member

Alienation can happen when a parent, carer, or family member says negative things about another parent, carer, or family member to a child, which may affect the child's relationship with that person.

Exploitation or corruption – encouraging harmful or illegal behaviour

Exploiting or corrupting behaviour may include a parent, carer or family member who is involved in illegal or antisocial activity:

involving the child in this activity
exposing the child to this activity to the extent that the child or young person normalises illegal or antisocial behaviour as a lifestyle.

Isolation – keeping a child from support and relationships

Isolation of child may include:

denying emotional responsiveness
inhibiting the child's relationships with others inside or outside of the family
consistently ignoring the child’s need for attention or affection.

Constant criticism or hostility

Hostility may include a pattern where:

everything the child does is criticised
little or no praise balances the criticism
the criticism is not constructive or helpful but, rather, is personally attacking.

Rejection

Rejection may include a pattern in which the parent, carer or other family member does not accept the physical or emotional presence of the child, for example – the parent, carer or other family member consistently speaks or acts in ways that convey to the child that they are not wanted or are undeserving of membership in the family.

Humiliating or degrading a child

Degradation may include a parent, carer or other family member humiliating a child for example – name calling, teasing, ridiculing regarding weight, body parts.

Signs a child may be experiencing psychological or emotional harm

Children experiencing psychological or emotional harm may show signs in their behaviour, development or relationships with others. These signs do not always mean harm is occurring, but they may indicate that a child needs support or may be at risk of harm.

Signs of sexual abuse and grooming

Sexual abuse is when a child is involved in sexual activity or behaviour that they do not fully understand, cannot consent to, or are pressured into by another person. It often involves someone using their position of power or trust to exploit the child.

Grooming is when a person builds trust with a child, or the adults around them to create opportunities for sexual abuse and to help keep it hidden.

Adult behaviours that may be signs of sexual abuse or grooming

People who sexually abuse or groom children often use trust, secrecy, manipulation or special attention to gain access to a child:

persistently intruding on a child ’s privacy
child prostitution – engaging in, supporting or coercing
behaviour suggestive of grooming a child may include:
- buying gifts
- singling out one child from others
- inconsistent reports of activities with the child
fondling, kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner, exhibitionism, mutual masturbation, oral sex
penetration of the genital or anal region
communicating in a sexually explicit way that is not age or developmentally appropriate
sending obscene messages, phone calls, emails, social media posts to a child
exposing a child to:
- pornographic films, magazines or photographs
- written information about explicit sexual acts
having a child pose or perform in a sexual manner to produce child abuse materials
engaging in online chat rooms or websites posing as a child.

People who sexually abuse children may:

be from any culture, faith, religion, race, age, sexuality, gender, and be married or single
be skilled at gaining the trust of adults and children
seek work in agencies that come into contact with children
be skilled at identifying children who are less resilient and more vulnerable
use their professional position to exploit vulnerable adults, children by providing food or financial reward.

Signs a child may be experiencing sexual abuse

A child experiencing sexual abuse may show a range of physical or behavioural signs. While these signs do not always indicate sexual abuse, they can be a warning sign, especially when seen alongside other concerning changes in a child's behaviour, health or wellbeing.

Substance abuse and mental health concerns

When a parent or carer experiences substance abuse or mental health concerns, it can affect their ability to provide stable care, meet a child's needs and maintain important routines, for example – school attendance, bedtimes and social commitments.

This may have a negative impact on a child's safety, wellbeing and development.

Signs a parent or carer may be struggling with substance use or mental health concerns

The parent or carer:

expresses ideas that are out of touch with reality
does not provide even minimal emotional support for child
threatens or attempts suicide, homicide, harms pets
behaviour is extremely erratic and/or unpredictable.

If you are concerned about a child

If you recognise signs that a child may be at risk of harm, it is important to take your concerns seriously.

You do not need proof that a child is being harmed before taking action.

You may have reasonable grounds to be concerned when:

a child tells you they are at risk or have been harmed
your observations of a child's behaviour, wellbeing or injuries raise concern they are at risk or have been harmed
a child tells you someone else is at risk or has been harmed
a person provides reliable information that raises concerns about a child's safety.

If you are concerned about a child's safety or wellbeing, contact the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78. To learn more about your reporting responsibilities and options below.

Responding to a disclosure – what to do if a child tells you about harm or abuse.
Making a report – when and how to report your concerns.
Understanding mandatory reporting – who must report and their legal responsibilities.