Confidentiality

A child of any age can be offered confidentiality, but we always need to make clear the limits. 

If we hear anything dangerous, we are obliged to break the confidence, either informing the parents, another responsible adult, or Families SA (Child Abuse Report Line: 131 478). 

A statement can be made along the following lines

‘What we talk about in here is between you and me, I won’t tell anybody anything that you tell me without your permission.  There is an exception though: if you tell me about anything dangerous then I will be obliged to let people know for safety reasons.  I will always talk through with you when I am going to break your confidence and try to do it in a way that is least worrisome for you’.