In Tasmania, ‘reports’ or ‘intakes’ are ‘caller-defined’ meaning that nearly all intakes will be initially classified as ‘notifications’. This has the effect, relative to other jurisdictions which do not employ this approach, of inflating the number of ‘notifications’.
The agency then determines whether the ‘notification’ has sufficient information to require an investigation.
We requested only data on notifications of child abuse and neglect. Because of the approach taken in Tasmania to defining ‘notifications’, we received this data, but it will reflect an inflated number of initial notifications.
We did not request data on reports made under Tasmania’s differential response system (Gateways) as the study is focused on reports of child abuse and neglect of a higher level of seriousness.
