Number of reports by major reporter groups combined, by year, abuse type, and outcome
Reports increase substantially from 2003-07 for:
EA reports more than tripled from 624 to 2025;
N reports increased from 384 to 957;
PA reports increased from 328 to 707;
SA reports increased from 222 to 428 (2003 to 2005).
Reports then stabilised from 2007 through 2012:
EA reports from 2025 to 2158;
N reports from 957 to 1274;
PA reports from 707 to 918;
SA reports from 428 to 561.
Substantiations of EA, N, PA and SA do not keep pace with the rise in reports. The number of reports not investigated increases markedly for EA (343 to 1803), N (148 to 1009), PA (165 to 623) and SA (120 to 470).
Substantial increase 2003-2007 in EA, N, PA reports likely reflects DV and impact of two inquiries/reports.
Same pattern for SA 2003-2005.
Stabilisation 2007-2012 may reflect bedding down of reporting practice; dissipation of heightened awareness
Numbers of reports not investigated may reflect poor report quality, lack of resources, caller-defined protocol, and other contextual factors
2.6.2
Number of reports by other reporter groups combined, by year, abuse type, and outcome
Reports increase substantially from 2003-07 for:
EA reports almost tripled from 848 to 2358;
N reports doubled from 587 to 1152;
PA reports increased from 296 to 531 (2003 to 2005);
SA reports increased from 174 to 362 (2003 to 2005).
Reports then stabilised from 2007 through 2012:
EA reports from 2358 to 2427;
N reports from 1152 to 1166;
PA reports from 531 to 493 (2005-2012);
SA reports from 362 to 437 (2005-2012).
Substantiation trends vary.
EA: increase through 2006 (to 418), then decline through 2012 (to 172)
N: increase through 2005 (to 191), then decline through 2012 (to 114)
PA: low numbers generally but decline over decade (67 to 44)
SA: low numbers generally over decade between 15-25 p.a.
Over the decade, a very high proportion (80-90%) of all reports was not investigated especially EA, N.
Substantial increase 2003-2007 in EA, N, PA reports likely reflects DV and impact of two inquiries/reports, despite EA, N not being mandated.
Same pattern for SA 2003-2005.
Stabilisation 2007-2012 may reflect bedding down of reporting practice; dissipation of heightened awareness
Numbers of reports not investigated may reflect poor report quality, lack of resources, caller-defined protocol, and other contextual factors
2.6.3
Number of reports by doctors, by year, abuse type, and outcome
Very low numbers of reports by doctors for all types, especially SA (5-24 p.a), PA (6-28 p.a))
Very low substantiated reports by doctors, especially for SA (10 over the decade), PA (23 over the decade)
Unusually low reporting practice by doctors. May be explicable by low population in ACT, affluent population, nurses’ tendency to report instead of doctors; but worth exploring further
2.6.5
Number of reports by police, by year, abuse type, and outcome
From 2003 to 2012, steady increase in reports for:
EA (314 to 1037)
N (141 to 289)
But stable for:
PA (69 to 106)
SA (69 to 199) – with upsurge in SA reports from 2009 to 2012.
Investigation rates show few reports are investigated (especially since 2007):
EA: around 80% are not investigated
N: 65-70% are not investigated
PA: 75% are not investigated
SA:60-80% are not investigated
Substantiation rate of those reports that are investigated varies over time and by type.
Substantial increase in EA, N reports likely reflects DV and impact of two inquiries/reports, despite EA, N not being mandated.
Numbers of reports not investigated may reflect poor report quality, lack of resources, caller-defined protocol, and other contextual factors
SR may reflect report quality, agency practice, report type and diversion approach
2.6.6
Number of reports by school personnel, by year, abuse type, and outcome
Increase in reports from 2003 to 2007, followed by decrease in 2008, then a second increase through 2012, for:
EA (170 to 662; decrease to 381; then rise to 622)
N (134 to 434; decrease to 347; then rise to 639)
PA (188 to 512; decrease to 497; rise to 636)
For SA, increase 2003 to 2005 (83 to 179) then stabilisation through 2012 (to 231).
Investigation rates show rates are low especially since 2007:
EA: around 80% are not investigated
N: 75-85% are not investigated
PA: 60-80% are not investigated
SA: 85% are not investigated
Numbers of substantiated reports of SA are very low after 2007 (in the 3 years 2008-2010 there was a total of 15 substantiated reports by teachers of SA).
Substantial increase in EA, N, PA reports likely reflects DV and impact of two inquiries/reports, despite EA, N not being mandated.
Decline in 2008 may reflect local contextual factors in agency/resources, since restored
Numbers of reports not investigated may reflect poor report quality, lack of resources, caller-defined protocol, and other contextual factors
SR may reflect report quality, agency practice, report type and diversion approach
