What is neglect?

Neglect includes a failure to provide the child with

an adequate standard of nutrition
medical care
clothing
shelter
supervision to the extent that the health or physical development of the child is significantly impaired or placed at serious risk.

In some circumstances the neglect of a child:

can place the child's immediate safety and development at serious risk
may not immediately compromise the safety of the child, but is likely to result in longer term cumulative harm.

This includes low-to-moderate concerns for the wellbeing of a child, such as:

Both forms of neglect must be responded to via the Four Critical Actions for Early Childhood Services.

What are the physical indicators of neglect?

Physical indicators of neglect include (but are not limited to):

appearing consistently dirty and unwashed
being consistently inappropriately dressed for weather conditions
being at risk of injury or harm due to consistent lack of adequate supervision from parents
being consistently hungry, tired and listless
having unattended health problems and lack of routine medical care
having inadequate shelter and unsafe or unsanitary conditions.

Behaviour indicators of neglect include (but are not limited to):

In an infant or toddler:

self-stimulatory behaviours, for example, rocking, head banging
crying excessively or not at all
listless and immobile and/or emancipated and pale
exhibits significant delays in gross motor development and coordination
inadequate attention to the safety of the home (e.g. dangerous medicines left where children may have access to them)
being left unsupervised, either at home, on the street or in a car
their parent/carer is unresponsive or impatient to child's cues and unreceptive to support
developmental delay due to lack of stimulation.

In all children, infants and toddlers:

being left with older children or persons who could not reasonably be expected to provide adequate care and protection
gorging when food is available or inability to eat when extremely hungry
begging for, or stealing food
appearing withdrawn, listless, pale and weak
aggressive behaviour, irritability
little positive interaction with parent, carer or guardian
indiscriminate acts of affection and excessive friendliness towards strangers
exhibits significant delays in gross and fine motor development and coordination
poor, irregular or non-attendance at the service (where regular attendance is expected)
refusal or reluctance to go home
self-destructive behaviour
taking on an adult role of caring for parent.