Child protection
Recognising and responding to child abuse and neglect, and the doctor's legal duty to report.
High-yield points
Doctors are mandatory reporters in every Australian state and territory: a reasonable belief or suspicion of abuse must be reported to the state child protection agency.
You do not need proof; reporting in good faith is legally protected.
Red flags: injury inconsistent with history or development, delay in seeking care, changing stories, bruises in non-mobile infants.
TEN-4-FACESp: bruising to the torso, ears or neck in under-4s, or any bruising in infants under 4 months, is concerning.
Suspected physical abuse in young children: skeletal survey and further investigations under paediatric care.
The child's safety comes first; you can report without the parents' consent, and sometimes should not warn them.
Family violence exposure is a form of harm to children.
Female genital mutilation is a crime in all Australian states and territories.
India vs Australia
Where the answer the AMC marks correct differs from what’s usually taught in Indian MBBS.
| Aspect | India (MBBS)What you learn in MBBS | Australia (AMC)What the exam marks as correct |
|---|---|---|
| Legal duty | POCSO requires reporting child sexual offences to police. | Mandatory reporting of reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect to state child protection. Categories and thresholds vary by state. |
| Warning signs | Taught mainly for sexual abuse. | Sentinel injuries matter: any bruise in a non-mobile infant needs assessment for abuse. |
| Consent to report | Family is usually involved. | Parental consent isn't needed to report. Keep the child safe first; avoid confronting parents in a way that increases risk. |
| Cultural context | Not applicable. | Be aware of the Stolen Generations and the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, but culture never overrides a child's safety. |
Legal duty
India (MBBS)
POCSO requires reporting child sexual offences to police.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Mandatory reporting of reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect to state child protection. Categories and thresholds vary by state.
Warning signs
India (MBBS)
Taught mainly for sexual abuse.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Sentinel injuries matter: any bruise in a non-mobile infant needs assessment for abuse.
Consent to report
India (MBBS)
Family is usually involved.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Parental consent isn't needed to report. Keep the child safe first; avoid confronting parents in a way that increases risk.
Cultural context
India (MBBS)
Not applicable.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Be aware of the Stolen Generations and the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, but culture never overrides a child's safety.
The Australian context
Reporting thresholds and the categories that must be reported differ between states (NSW, for example, uses a 'Mandatory Reporter Guide'), so the AMC expects you to know the principle. Cultural sensitivity matters because of the history of the Stolen Generations, but it never overrides a child's safety.