When a Department of Child Safety caseworker asks, a school must share certain information about a pupil's records, in line with federal student privacy law, and public and private schools may not bar staff, contractors or volunteers from talking to a caseworker investigating abuse or neglect.
Official title: DCS caseworkers; schools; required disclosures
- September 12, 2026
What changes
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NowWhen a Department of Child Safety caseworker asks, a school must tell the caseworker about any school that has asked for a pupil's educational records.
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NowWhen a caseworker asks, a school must identify anyone who has withdrawn a pupil from school, based on the pupil's educational records.
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NowWhen a caseworker asks, a school must provide any other requested information or records about a pupil who is or was enrolled there. These disclosures must follow the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its regulations.
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NowA public or private school may not stop any employee, contractor or volunteer from speaking to a Department of Child Safety caseworker who is investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect.
Who it affects
- Pupils and their families
- School employees, contractors and volunteers
- Public and private schools
- Department of Child Safety caseworkers
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- How quickly a school must respond to a caseworker's request
- Whether the records-sharing requirement covers private schools as well as public schools
- Whether parents are told when records are shared with a caseworker
- What happens if a school does not comply
- How a school is to confirm that a person is a Department of Child Safety caseworker
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.