Information sharing policy

Information sharing

Follow this policy when sharing information related to child protection clients.
Document ID number 1900, version 2, 14 November 2025.

Introduction

The appropriate sharing of information is integral to effective child protection practice, and is provided for in Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA) and in other relevant legislation.

Child protection practitioners and managers are required to understand:

their responsibilities in relation to information sharing and privacy
the various circumstances in which sharing information is required, permitted, restricted or prohibited
the basis for decisions they make regarding information sharing and privacy

Skill in handling information appropriately is also required.

Policy

When sharing information in the course of carrying out responsibilities under the CYFA the best interests of the child must always be paramount.

Child Protection shares information as permitted or required in law to facilitate:

the identification of risks to children, and their needs
early, effective intervention and well-coordinated service provision to promote the safety and wellbeing of children, and their development and care
the effective assessment and management of family violence risk.

Sharing under alternative pathways

Child Protection is prescribed under the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and the Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes (FVISS).

The Schemes were designed to promote and strengthen information sharing and collaborative practice and can be used when other information sharing pathways are not available, for example when Child Protection is no longer involved with a child
The CISS and FVISS do not prevent you from collecting, using or disclosing information where it is already allowed under another Act, such as the CYFA
If you receive a request under CISS and/or FVISS then you must respond to the request (or formally decline the request if it doesn’t meet the thresholds)
It is important that you record this activity on CRIS using the case note type ‘Information Sharing Scheme’. You should record a summary of the information you shared, who you shared it with, and which legislation you requested/responded under. See the Information Sharing Team SharePoint site for further information about record keeping requirements
If you are unsure about sharing, discuss with your Team Manager or contact the Information Sharing Team at info.exchange@dffh.vic.gov.au

Topics setting out our approach under this policy

Additional information