Child Protection Coordination and Support Unit

The Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW) Child Protection Coordination and Support Unit (CPCSU) fulfils a range of CSNSW child protection functions and supports staff to meet statutory child protection responsibilities.

The CPCSU meets its legislative responsibilities under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 as well as those contained in the NSW Government's Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention.

The CPCSU functions include:

• assessing risks relating to child visits with inmates who are assessed as child related offenders under the CSNSW Child Contact Assessment Policy (CCAP).
• providing advice and support to staff with regards to CCAP implementation.
• coordinating child protection information exchange between CSNSW and prescribed bodies (both government and non-government).
• providing advice to staff and the community where required with regards to submitting Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) reports to the Child Protection Helpline where there are concerns for the safety, welfare and wellbeing of a child or young person.

About the CCAP

An inmate held in CSNSW custody is subject to the CCAP if their current charge/s, current conviction, or prior conviction (including interstate or juvenile), relates to any offence that has been committed against a child, in the presence of a child or placed a child at risk of significant harm. This includes sexual or violent offences, domestic violence in the presence of a child or against a pregnant victim as well as if other child protection concerns are identified (E.G. utilising a child to introduce contraband into a Correctional Centre). 

Under the CCAP, identified inmates can apply to receive visits from nominated child/ren (or young person/s) under 18 years old. Applications will only progress if the legal guardian (or caseworker if under Parental Responsibility of the Minister) consents. It is the responsibility of the inmate to advise the guardian to contact the CPCSU (if there are no Court Orders preventing them from doing so).

Applications are assessed by the CPCSU for the completion of a child focused risk assessment. The role of the CPCSU is to examine the information available and assess the degree of risk posed to the child in visiting the particular inmate. CCAP assessments may provide approval for both in person visits and via Audio Visual Link (AVL), conditional approval for AVL visits only or a decline, meaning the inmate remains unable to receive child visits. If the CCAP is declined, the inmate will receive a letter with the reasons for the decline as well as further steps they can take to request a review of the decision.

The CPCSU can be contacted via the following:

Email: child.protection@correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 02 9295 6744