New information sharing legislation

Government agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and some health practitioners will soon be able to share information about a child or young person without Community Services involvement as part of Keep Them Safe amendments to Chapter 16A of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 due in the next few weeks.

A government agency or NGO may request information held by another agency that relates to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or young person, including information that may:

help the agency to make a decision or undertake an assessment or plan
assist an investigation
assist the agency to provide a service.

A government agency or NGO is obliged to comply with a request for information that meets the above criteria if they reasonably believe the information would help the recipient agency to work with or manage any risk to the child or young person. The amendments allow for the protection of those providing information in good faith.

Clear, easy-to-understand explanations on what type of information can be exchanged and when will be contained in the NSW Interagency Guidelines, which are being revised to provide the basis for the new mandatory reporter guidance tool.