There are laws (in the Children’s and Community Services Act 2004) that protect people who report "in good faith" their concerns about children being abused and laws that enable public authorities to share information for the wellbeing of children.  

An important element of the Western Australia child protection system is ensuring that people working with children are aware of their responsibilities to share relevant information about families in need of support and to report children who are in need of protection.

An Interagency Collaborative Framework for Protecting Children (PDF, 219kb) has been established to promote collaboration and partnerships between individuals, families, professionals, local communities, community agencies and government departments.

Reciprocal Child Protection Procedures (PDF, 230kb) are in place between key government departments that employ doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers and police officers. These Procedures provide guidelines for referring, reporting and investigating child abuse allegations and concerns.

Protocol exists between the Department for Child Development and the Department of Health for the reporting of children and young people under 14 years of age who have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the reporting of children between 14 and 16 years of age with an STI as a result of abuse.

There are also targeted mandatory reporting laws that require the reporting of child abuse in Western Australia.  The Family Court Act 1997 requires that court personnel, counsellors and mediators report child abuse in Family Court cases.  The Children and Community Services Regulations 2006 require that the providers of child care services and outside school hours care report abuse in the service to the Department for Child Protection.