Reporting Concerns
How to raise a concern about a child's safety — confidential, supported, and taken seriously.
Keeping Our Children Safe — Together
Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. At MSA Youth Academy, we want every parent, leader, and community member to feel confident and supported in raising a concern about a child's safety or wellbeing — no matter how small it may seem.
This guide explains how to raise a concern, what happens when you do, and the commitments we make to you throughout the process. Whether you're a parent, a volunteer leader, or a member of our broader community — your voice matters, and we are listening.
In Islam, protecting those who cannot protect themselves is a sacred duty. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever sees a wrong, let him change it." Raising a concern is not causing trouble — it is fulfilling a moral and Islamic obligation.
How to Report a Concern
Recognise the Concern
Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right — whether you’ve observed concerning behaviour, a child has disclosed something to you, or you have a general feeling of unease — that is enough to act. You don’t need to be certain. You don’t need proof. You just need a genuine concern.
Concerns can include: changes in a child’s behaviour, unexplained injuries, a child expressing fear about an adult, inappropriate interactions you’ve witnessed, or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable about a child’s safety.
Report to MSA Leadership
Raise your concern directly with the MSA Group Leader (GL) or a member of the MSA leadership team. You can do this in person, by phone, or in writing — whichever you’re most comfortable with. Be as specific as you can about what you’ve observed or been told, but don’t feel pressured to investigate yourself.
If your concern involves the Group Leader or a senior leader, you should report directly to the MSA Executive Committee or contact an external authority (see Step 4).
MSA Takes Action
Once a concern is raised, MSA leadership will take it seriously and respond promptly. This may include: speaking with the relevant parties, documenting the concern, implementing interim safety measures (such as adjusting supervision arrangements), and where necessary, escalating to external authorities.
The person who raised the concern will be kept informed of the general progress, within the bounds of confidentiality and privacy. MSA will never ignore or dismiss a concern.
Contact External Authorities if Needed
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, or if you feel your concern has not been adequately addressed by MSA, you should contact the relevant external authorities directly. You always have the right to report to external bodies — you do not need MSA’s permission.
In an emergency, always call 000 first.
External Reporting Contacts
Emergency Services
For immediate danger or risk of harm. Call Triple Zero first if a child is in immediate danger.
NSW Child Protection Helpline
To report concerns about a child or young person at risk of significant harm. Operated by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. Available 24 hours, 7 days.
Office of the Children’s Guardian
For concerns about organisations working with children, or to report issues with Working With Children checks.
NSW Police
For non-emergency police assistance. If you believe a criminal offence has occurred, you can report directly to police.
Our Commitments to You
Confidentiality
All concerns are treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Information is shared only on a need-to-know basis with those directly involved in responding to the concern. We will never publicly identify someone who has raised a concern in good faith.
No Retaliation
MSA has a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against anyone who raises a genuine concern about child safety. Whether you’re a parent, leader, or community member — you will be supported, not penalised, for speaking up.
Child-First Approach
In every situation, the safety and wellbeing of the child comes first. All decisions and actions will prioritise the child’s best interests, in accordance with NSW child protection legislation and Islamic principles of care and guardianship.
Transparency
We are committed to being open and honest with families about how we handle concerns. While we must respect privacy and confidentiality, we will communicate clearly about our processes and, where appropriate, the general outcome of our response.
NSW Child Protection Laws
MSA Youth Academy operates in accordance with NSW child protection legislation. Key laws that inform our policies include:
- Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
Establishes the framework for protecting children and young people from harm, including mandatory reporting obligations for certain professionals.
- Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
Requires all adults working or volunteering in child-related roles to hold a valid Working With Children Check clearance.
- Children’s Guardian Act 2019
Establishes the Office of the Children’s Guardian and the Child Safe Standards, which set expectations for organisations working with children.
While MSA volunteer leaders are not classified as "mandatory reporters" under NSW law, we hold ourselves to the same standard. Our policy requires all leaders to report any concern about a child's safety to MSA leadership, who will then determine whether a report to the NSW Child Protection Helpline or other authorities is appropriate.
If a Child Discloses Something to You
If a child tells you something that concerns you — whether directly about their safety or about someone else's — here is how to respond:
Do: Listen calmly and let them speak
Don't: Don’t react with shock or alarm
Do: Reassure them they’ve done the right thing by telling you
Don't: Don’t promise to keep it a secret
Do: Let them use their own words
Don't: Don’t ask leading or probing questions
Do: Write down what they said as soon as possible (using their words)
Don't: Don’t try to investigate yourself
Do: Report to MSA leadership immediately
Don't: Don’t confront the person the concern is about
Remember: your role is to listen, reassure, and report. You are not expected to investigate or determine the truth of what a child tells you. Leave that to the people trained to do so.
"Whoever sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart." — Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)
MSA Youth Academy Australia Inc. · ABN: 38 692 380 242