Receiving serious violent or child sexual abuse material

It is important that practitioners and managers take immediate actions when dealing with material depicting child abuse. This includes being consulted about, unknowingly receiving, physical or electronic material describing or depicting children or young people being involved in or being subjected to:  

1. Child sexual abuse and/or
2. Serious violent acts.

This constitutes child abuse material (CAM) which makes it illegal.

See Receiving serious violent or child abuse material – advice for definitions.
 

• Do not knowingly observe or receive material that is includes photos, videos or simulations depicting a person under 18 in a sexual context or being subjected to acts of violence. This material is referred to as child abuse material (CAM).
• Consult your team manager in all cases where material exists, or is believed to exist, of children subject to Child Protection involvement being subject to CAM.
• Immediately report the material to Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) and seek advice on actions required.
• Record the outcome of the consultation and Police advice on CRIS.
• Record the relevant risk factors in the essential information categories in CRIS.
• Take immediate actions to secure the material.  See Receiving violent or child abuse material – advice.
• Unless advised otherwise by Victoria Police, do not transmit what you believe to be serious violent or child abuse material to any person or allow any persons to view them.
• Consult the sexual exploitation practice leader (SEPL) or area principal practitioner.
• Develop a safety plan to immediately address any safety needs, including any emergency medical or care needs for the child or young person victim(s).
   

• Ensure all required tasks and actions are completed by the responsible case manager and documented in CRIS.
• Initiate a consultation with the SEPL or area principal practitioner and deputy area operations manager (DAOM).
• Proactively manage situations that may lead to vicarious trauma for the practitioner and/or other staff members.
• Make formal debriefing available to the practitioner whenever appropriate or requested. 
   

As it relates to confirmation or likelihood of child sexual exploitation or abuse:

• Practitioners and managers must not intentionally view material that is believed or confirmed to contain child abuse
• If required for the purposes of a risk assessment, practitioners can request facial images or a written narrative of the material from Victoria Police.
• Undertake consultations with case managers to determine a child’s individual risk and actions required to mitigate risk.
• Oversee individual and divisional correspondence with Victoria Police and other key service providers to ensure appropriate measures are in place to address the believed or confirmed child sexual exploitation.
   

• Practitioners and managers must not intentionally view material that is believed or confirmed to contain child abuse.
• If required for the purposes of a risk assessment, practitioners can request facial images or a written narrative of the material from Victoria Police.
• Provide a briefing to the area director summarising issue, risk assessment and actions.
   

• Threats to kill a child, parent, or carer
• Child sexual exploitation
• High risk youth
• Victoria Police – protocol
• Child exploitation practice guide for child protection
• Missing children and young people