Follow this procedure when conducting a search of the Connect for Safety platform for Child Protection records held in another jurisdiction.
Document ID number 1904, version 1, 11 May 2022.
Connect for Safety is an electronic platform that allows Child Protection practitioners to quickly identify whether Child Protection information exists for a child, young person, or an adult in any jurisdictional Child Protection department, ministry or agency across Australia. Connect for Safety will not display the full record held by another jurisdiction. It shows biographical information, and indigenous status about children, young people, their family and persons known to them. If practitioners wish to access Child Protection records held in another jurisdiction that are identified within Connect for Safety, a request should be made via the Interstate Liaison Process.
The objective of Connect for Safety is to improve the accuracy and speed of information exchange between jurisdictions with the aim to:
- minimise the number of child deaths where families known to Child Protection have crossed state and territory borders, and
- improve long-term outcomes for vulnerable children and young people whose families are known to more than one jurisdiction.
The search function is governed by a National Governance process and relevant state and federal privacy legislation and can only be accessed if you have completed the mandatory eLearning module available in the learning tab of OurPeople.
For further information see Connect for Safety Child Protection record search – advice
Before accessing Connect for Safety, Child Protection practitioners to be authorised and trained to use the platform as all data in Connect for Safety is classified as Sensitive-Personal. The minimum prerequisites for access are:
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National criminal record check clearance,
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Working with Children Check (WWCC) verification, and;
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Completion of user training.
Case practitioner tasks
- Complete a search in the Connect for Safety search platform using the CRIS client identification (ID) number to ensure the most accurate match process can occur.
- Observe existing interstate information seeking and sharing processes when a match has been identified. Follow-up should occur with the identified jurisdiction where the possible match has been found.
- Record information about the search conducted in CRIS in case notes, including any follow-up decisions and actions taken in the client file.
- Information in the case note must be titled clearly with the details and purpose of the search described in the document.
Case note recording example:
Case note title: Connect For Safety Child Protection records search outcome
Details: Following the current report/new allegation relating to identified risks to a child’s safety and wellbeing, a search was undertaken on Connect For Safety to identify if any other Child Protection jurisdiction in Australia held information that may assist in the formation of a risk assessment.
OUTCOME OF SEARCH:
No match found OR Match found in XXXX [identify state or territory where records found]
Request for information from XXXX [identify state or territory where records found] has been made through the Interstate Liaison process.
- Use this information and evidence to inform your risk assessment. See SAFER children framework.
- Follow-up should occur through business-as-usual ILO processes where there is no match in the Connect for Safety search, but the user has reason to believe that a person could have a record in another jurisdiction. See ILO protocol.
- Determine the risk assessment and record it in the case practice area of CRIS, in the 'A' tab or ‘FER’ tab. The risk assessment should be based on the information obtained from the Interstate Liaison request for information, as well as any other information gathered.
- Consult with either your team manager, senior practitioner, practice leader or divisional principal practitioner where necessary.
Supervisor tasks
- Read and review the risk assessment.
- Provide guidance and support as required.
Team manager / practice leader tasks
- Review and endorse the risk assessment.
- Provide guidance and support as required.