Getting Help

• Why Kids Call Us
• Who Else Can Help?
• What Happens When Kids Call?
  • Recorded Message
  • Duty Of Care
  • Mobile Phones
• Who Do Kids Talk To?

Duty Of Care

When young people use our counselling service, the information that they tell us is not shared with any person or organisation outside of Kids Helpline. The only exception to this is if our counsellors are told something that creates a ‘Duty of Care’ situation.

‘Duty of Care’ situations occur when we find out that a child or young person:

• is being hurt or not being looked after properly
• is seriously thinking about hurting him/herself
• has hurt, or is seriously thinking about hurting someone else
• if we have significant concerns about a child's health and safety

If this happens, the counsellor will let the young person know that they are concerned and will work with them to try and make sure that they remain safe. The counsellor may encourage the caller to give information about themselves (like their name and where they are).

Kids Helpline may then share this information with emergency services or the relevant child protection agency, so that they can act to ensure the young person's safety, and the safety of anyone else involved.