Overview
- The new setup, which starts Friday, puts 82 Child Protection Case Management agencies in charge of abuse cases and activates an independent Triage Assessment Panel.
- The panel serves as a final appeals body when agencies disagree on risk or case ownership and issues a binding triage decision within six working days.
- Reports of suspected abuse will continue to go through the 24-hour National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline, which will route child-protection cases to a designated lead agency.
- Lead agencies gain legal powers to require medical assessments and share key information, while only MSF’s Protective Service and the police can remove a child from parental care.
- The reforms follow documented lapses in Megan Khung’s case, including an unlogged CPS call and a specialist centre declining the case, with MSF confirming a disciplinary probe into a CPS officer is ongoing as high-risk cases rose 14.5% in 2024.