What is the Advice and Referral Line (ARL)?
It is the first point of contact for community members with concerns for the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person in Tasmania. A service that focuses on providing earlier intervention to identify the needs of the child and their family and support them to access the help they require.
The ARL is the contact point for all mandatory reporters, concerned relatives, friends or neighbours. Parents and children can also call to ask for help for themselves.
Our goals:
- We work with everyone in the community.
- We make sure we respond earlier to keep children safe.
- We help families be strong again.
Because we all want children to be safe and we all have a part to play.
What happens when I call the Advice and Referral Line?
When you call the ARL, we will:
- Talk to you about the situation.
- Answer your questions.
- Give you information or advice.
- If needed, arrange a referral to a service which can best meet the needs of the child.
The staff member you talk to will also:
- ask for your name and work details and if you agree for this to be shared with the family.
- find out if you have already been doing some things to help the family and if the family know that you are concerned.
- assess the wellbeing needs of the child based on what you have said and other information available to them.
- make a record of the conversation including the information you have given and any agreements made together.
- talk to you about next steps to be taken.
Every call received is triaged to determine the most appropriate response. This may include a recommendation for an urgent safety assessment.
Your Confidentiality
People who call the ARL have a legal right to confidentiality.
The staff member will record your details, but won’t disclose your identity without your consent unless they need to consult with another person acting in the course of official duties under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (such as another ARL staff member or a Child Safety Officer); or if they have been ordered by a court.
Staff will do their best to maintain your confidentiality if this is what you request. However, staff will need to talk to the family about what has been reported, and in many cases the family will guess where the information came from. The staff member can talk to you about this scenario, how it may impact you and the child and how you plan to respond.
Who is the Advice and Referral Line?
The Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line is staffed by the Children and Families division of Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) and non‑government partners Baptcare and Mission Australia.
A service that shares the responsibility for responding to the needs of children and their families. The ARL replaces the old regional Child Safety and non-government Gateway Intake System. The now combined approach to support means earlier intervention and better outcomes for children and their families.