Child Wellbeing Units (CWU)
Child Wellbeing Units can be contacted on 1300 480 420 and will take calls from health staff between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
After hours, you can provide initial advice, via email, fax or telephone messaging about a child protection concern, which will be followed up on the next business day. CWU Notification Form
Child Wellbeing Units align with the existing NSW Child Health Networks. Aboriginal CWU assessment officers are employed at each Unit.
Child Wellbeing Units are staffed by child protection professionals who will provide advice and support to mandatory reporters on how to respond to concerns relating to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people. This includes support in identifying whether or not concerns constitute risk of significant harm, use of the Mandatory Reporter Guide and providing advice on what action may be taken by reporters in response to all levels of concern.
Child Wellbeing Units will record concerns that are below the significant harm threshold to ensure that these children and young people do not 'fall through the gaps.' Each CWU will have limited access to other agencies' CWU databases, as well as to the Community Services KIDS system, to assist the sharing of information, to determine risk and to facilitate clear referral pathways to support services.
When to call a Child Wellbeing Unit
NSW Health Mandatory reporters should call the NSW Health Child Wellbeing units:- where the Mandatory Reporter Guide advises you to do so
- to determine whether your concerns meet the new risk of significant harm threshold where you have consulted the Mandatory Reporter Guide and you remain unsure
- to identify whether another agency has concerns or is working with a particular child, young person or family and whether this information impacts on the level of risk
- for advice and assistance in planning what referrals and services may be offered to assist the child, young person and their family.
Child Wellbeing Area Coordinator
Each Area Health Service has a Child Wellbeing Area Coordinator to support health staff with their responsibilities in relation to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of children and young people. Health Child Wellbeing Area Coordinators:
- provide advice on mandatory reporter responsibilities and the Health CWU
- coordinate improved responses to children and young people where concerns are raised by mandatory reporters via the CWU
- assess and facilitate the referral pathways to appropriate services for children, young people and families in the Area Health Service
- provide advice to other government departments, about Area Health Services referral pathways
Contact details for Health Child Wellbeing Area Coordinators