About our child protection services
We deliver culturally safe, trauma-informed and evidence-based services to children, young people and adults who are victims of violence, abuse and neglect to help prevent, identify and respond to:
- Aboriginal family violence
- adult and child sexual assault
- child physical and emotional abuse and neglect
- children and young people with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours
- domestic and family violence
- medical and forensic examinations for sexual assault, child protection or domestic and family violence
- working with adult survivors of child sexual assault.
Tertiary Child Protection Team
John Hunter Children’s Hospital's Child Protection Team provides:
- a 24-hour crisis counselling and medical service
- specialist psychosocial and medical assessment
- forensic medical assessment
- medical treatment
- advocacy and case management
- court support and expert testimony in court
- 24-hour specialist consultation and support to community services and health workers
Our Child Protection Team provides assessment and care to children presented to John Hunter Children’s Hospital where child protection issues are identified. Our team includes:
- Paediatricians
- Social workers
- Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Child Protection Team referrals
The John Hunter Children’s Hospital Child Protection Team accepts referrals from:
- individuals
- health professionals
- the Department of Communities and Justice
- NSW Police
- the Joint Child Protection Response Program
- non-government service providers who hold concern for children.
Report violence, abuse or neglect
To report a physical or sexual assault to police, contact your nearest police station. Police are trained to support people who have experienced sexual assault or domestic and family violence.
To report suspected abuse, neglect or sexual assault involving a child, call the 24-hour Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11.
About our Sexual Assault Service
Sexual assault is a crime. It includes any action in which someone is forced, coerced or threatened into ANY sexual act against their will.
Even if the person is not able to verbally protest or physically resist, it does not mean they have consented to the sexual activity. This includes when someone is affected by drugs or alcohol.
Sexual assault can occur in many different circumstances, and it is still sexual assault if this occurs when you are married to, or in a relationship with the person.
Child sexual abuse is where an adult, child or young person uses their power or authority to force, coerce or persuade a child to engage in sexual activity.
This includes exposing a child to pornography and other non-contact acts like communicating in a sexual way either online or by phone.
Sexual assault is an attack on a person's body, senses, emotions and whole of self. Its effects can be serious and long standing. They may include:
- shock, disbelief, shame and embarrassment
- numbness, guilt, confusion, helplessness
- fear of people, places or being alone
- feeling loss of control of your life
- irritability and anger
- relief that you have survived
- feeling dirty, unsafe, jumpy and overwhelmed
- sleep disturbances, nightmares and flashbacks
- nausea, headache, fatigue, and loss of appetite
- depression, heightened anxiety and loss of concentration.
Sexual assault services do not offer counselling to offenders of sexual assault and uphold the belief that the offender is totally responsible for the abuse. No one ever deserves to be sexually assaulted.
Sexual assault service
The sexual assault service (the service) is a free and confidential service.
The services are staffed by female counsellors who have knowledge and specialised training in working with children and adults who have been sexually abused.
Counsellors may have a background in either psychology or social work.
To ensure cultural appropriateness the service always consults with appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health staff for support and advice. Some sites offer the option of an Aboriginal counsellor.
Medical staff are available for consultation and advice.
Sexual assault services give priority to children and adults who have recently been sexually assaulted as well as offering a service to adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse.
Our services may include:
- crisis counselling following an assault
- medical examination within 7 days of an assault including forensic examination to assist the criminal proceedings
- ongoing counselling after an assault
- support and information for non-offending family members and partners
- information about reporting to police; the legal process and child protection agencies
- ongoing therapy for adults who have experienced sexual assault as children
- court information and support
- community education
- free and confidential counselling and support
- 24-hour crisis medical assistance, counselling, support and advocacy services
- information and referral for testing and treatment of STIs (sexually transmitted infections)
- information about sexual assault and its effects
- medical and legal information and support
- court preparation and support
- group programs
- assistance in accessing Victims' Services
- school education
- community action
- health promotion
Reporting sexual assault
If you are under 16 years of age and have been sexually assaulted, it is a legal requirement that the Child Protection Helpline (CPH) is informed.
This is for the protection of the young person and any other children or young people that the offender may come in contact with.
A report can be made to the CPH by anyone in the community by calling 13 21 11.
The Sexual Assault Service (the service) will always ask if a report has been made when contacted in relation to a child or young person.
Reports to the CPH may be reviewed by the Joint Referral Unit, consisting of the Police, Health, and the Department of Communities and Justice.
If appropriate, the Joint Referral Unit will send the report to the JCPRP (Joint Child Protection Response Program).
If referred to JCPRP, they will follow up about supports the child or young person needs. They will also complete a referral to the service if needed.
You do not need to have reported the sexual assault to the Police to receive support from an NSW Health sexual assault service if you are over 16 years of age.
Sexual assault referrals
It is preferable the client refer themselves however any member of the community can make a referral by telephoning the intake counsellor during business hours. The caller will be asked some questions to determine the client's needs.
A 24-hour after-hours crisis service is available for anyone assaulted within the prior 7 days.
Locations and contact details
| Location | Business hours phone | After hours or Crisis service phone |
|---|---|---|
Armidale | ||
Glen Innes | ||
Gunnedah | ||
Inverell | ||
Lower Hunter | ||
Moree | ||
Narrabri | ||
Newcastle | ||
Tamworth | ||
Taree | ||
Toomelah | ||
Muswellbrook |
Child Protection Counselling Service (CPCS)
The CPCS provides counselling to children and families who have experienced violence, abuse and neglect. The aim is to provide a safe environment that is safe and nurturing, so that everyone has a chance to heal.
The service is made up of social workers and psychologists and provides counselling and support to children and families where:
- physical or emotional abuse or neglect has occurred
- community services and JCPR (Joint Child Protection Response (JCPR) team have assessed a child or young person at risk of harm.
Working with parents and carers, the CPCS helps them understand how to create a safer environment for their children and to help meet their child's physical and emotional needs. This includes counselling with parents and carers, and sometimes with children as well.
The CPCS services may include:
- individual counselling and casework
- therapeutic or educational groups
- family work and advocacy
- where relevant, court preparation and support for children and their family.
In working with Aboriginal families, the CPCS recognises the importance of culture and connection to country, and the ways Aboriginal people continue to be impacted by colonisation.
Child Protection Counselling Service referrals
Referrals are made to the Child Protection Counselling Service (CPCS) by:
- the DCJ (Department of Communities and Justice)
- non-government agencies working with children who have experienced abuse and neglect
- by workers from within NSW Health.
A referral to CPCS should be made only with consent of the parent or carer.
All families referred to the service should either have:
- a current open matter with the DCJ
- been the subject of a recent report to the Child Protection Helpline that was screened in as ROSH (Risk of Significant Harm).
When making a referral, services should first contact their local CPCS to discuss eligibility of the referral and service capacity. Following this, CPCS will ask that a referral form be completed.
Location and contact details
| Location | Phone |
|---|---|
| Armidale | (02) 6776 3873 |
| Inverell | (02) 6721 9671 |
| Moree | (02) 6767 0250 |
| Muswellbrook (Upper Hunter) | (02) 6542 2724 |
| Newcastle | (02) 4924 6294 |
| Taree (Manning area) | (02) 6592 9696 |
| Tamworth | (02) 6767 8149 |
Sparks program
Sparks is a specialised program for children aged under 10 years presenting with problematic and harmful sexualised behaviour.
The Sparks team works in partnership with the Child Development Team and is the lead program for Safe Wayz in Hunter New England.
Our clinical services include:
- assessment with caregivers, other organisations and services such as schools
- development of a treatment plan with the family
- professional supervision and training
- community education
- liaison with agencies and community services.
Sparks program referrals and appointments
Referrals are accepted from health, welfare and education workers. Parents, carers or kin are also able to refer children in their care to the service.
Referral forms can be obtained by contacting the Child Development Team on (02) 4924 6400 or (02) 4924 6190.
You can send your referral via SeNT eReferral. If your GP management system does not support SeNT, you may fax your referral.
Location and contact details
| Address: | Harker Building - Longworth Avenue, Wallsend 2287 |
| Postal: | Locked Bag 1014, Wallsend NSW 2287 |
| Phone: | (02) 4924 6400 or (02) 4924 6190 |
| Fax: | (02) 4924 6401 |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm |
Joint Child Protection Response Program
The Joint Child Protection Response Program (the Program) provides a service to children and young people at risk of significant harm from sexual assault, serious physical abuse and extreme neglect.
The Program's role is to undertake investigations of statutory child protection matters that require a criminal justice response. The model provides a holistic response for:
- vulnerable children
- young people
- non-offending family members.
Our team
Our team of senior and experienced health clinicians provide consultation, advice and support to health staff across Hunter New England LHD to respond to children and families.
They also work closely with:
- NSW Police
- the Department of Communities and Justice case workers.
- Child Protection Teams
- Sexual Assault Services
- other health teams within Hunter New England LHD
- non-government organisations.
Referrals
All referrals must be made through the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.
If you have a child protection concern that you think needs the Program's response, call the Child Protection Helpline.
- The Program does not accept direct referrals.
Service contacts
| Location | Phone |
|---|---|
| Newcastle | (02) 4944 0300 |
| Inverell | (02) 6776 9817 |
| Tamworth | (02) 6763 5300 |
New Street Services
New Street Services (New Street) provides therapeutic services for children and young people aged 10 to 17 years who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours towards others.
New Street offers early intervention, and prevention programs and works with children, young people and their families and carers and help them to understand, acknowledge, take responsibility for and stop harmful sexual behaviour.
Aboriginal children, young people and communities are a priority for New Street. The service also provides training and consultation.
Our defined and evidence service model incorporates 2 important elements:
- Inter-agency approach: we work with the whole family unit to sustain and support interventions.
- Safety: the principle of safety is central to our service model and helps us support the child or young person either as a victim or as the person engaged in harmful sexual behaviour (who may themselves be victims of crime, abuse and neglect).
Referrals and service contacts
Contact us for referrals and more information:
| Tamworth (covers the Northern section of Hunter New England LHD) | (02) 6767 8860 |
| Newcastle (covers the Southern section of Hunter New England LHD) | (02) 4915 1756 |
Kids in Care Clinic
The Kids in Care Clinic (the Clinic) provides comprehensive health assessments for children who have entered out-of-home care in the last 12 months.
The clinic targets children who have recently entered out-of-home care to detect and treat any health concerns as early as possible.
The Clinic is staffed by a paediatrician, Clinical Nurse Consultant, and a Paediatric Registrar or fellow. The Clinic staff will carry out a comprehensive assessment of child's health and development.
When appropriate, our staff will make referrals or provide details in the report about where the Community Services or Non-Government Organisation (NGO) contact person can make referrals.
Note: The clinic does not provide ongoing medical care.
Referrals
The Kids in Care Clinic (the Clinic) only accepts referrals from the Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) Health Pathway Manager.
The child needs to have a GP referral to the Clinic Paediatrician. Referral criteria include:
- Referrals will only be accepted for children living in placement within the Greater Newcastle geographical area
- The child has been referred to the out-of-home care health pathway in the last 12 months
- The child is aged 0-17 years and in the last 12 months has entered out-of-home care under the Parental Responsibility of the Minister
- The child is not already linked in with a paediatrician or has not been reviewed by a paediatrician recently
- does not have a regular paediatrician or not had a paediatric medical assessment in the previous 12 months within the Greater Newcastle geographical area
- The child has developmental, or health concerns identified on their 2A assessment by a GP that requires a paediatrician's review.
Service contact
Virtual care appointments
Virtual care (telehealth) uses technology to offer patients and consumers a convenient way to connect with health professionals. Virtual care has many benefits for patients, carers and health professionals. Learn more about virtual care.
If you're unsure which waiting room to join in or need to speak with our telehealth support team, call (02) 4985 5400 from 8am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Join your virtual care appointment: