How to Become a Physician Assistant (PA) in 8 Steps

So, you want to become a physician assistant? Congratulations, you have taken the first step on a lifelong journey filled with many joy's, significant struggles and a lifetime of free pastries. Becoming a PA is relatively straightforward: Complete the required prerequisites and healthcare experience Apply to and be accepted to any one of the of 265+ US physician assistant programs Pass your PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Exam) Find a job and complete the licensure paperwork in your state of practice The timeline for becoming a PA can be as little as five years from the time you leave high school if you enter a direct entry PA program. But, for the clear majority, it's more like 8-9 years. Undergraduate degree program: 4 - 6 years Healthcare experience: 2-3 years PA school 2-3 years Of course, the process of getting there is much more nuanced. Here are the eight steps you need to take to become a physician assistant: Step 1: Identify Your PA Passion Why do you want to be a physician assistant? In the "old days," it may have been enough to want to be a PA "just because." You were looking for a job in the medical field that combined reasonable hours, good pay, and a lot of autonomy. But nowadaysyou can't just be "a little bit in." You have to be full on PA fanatical. Meaning you need not only have a firm understanding of what PAs do and how they fit into the complex ecosystem of healthcare delivery, but you also must develop a proven track recordthat indicates without any reasonable doubt that this is the profession for you. How do you do this?You must place yourself close to actual working PAs, you must be willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, and you must become the definition of human compassion. No matter where you are on this journey, whether you are a high school student dreaming of a bigger future, a college student completing your undergraduate degree, a married mother of two seeking a new career in medicine, or a recent college graduate, you MUST make this your numberone priority. When I was completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington, I came acrossa physician assistant while working in the student health centeras a medical records clerk. I was premed at the time (something I have discussed before on this blog). Meeting a PA was a real game-changer for me. The point here though is less about my meeting a PA and more about where I was at the time that I was able to work with one in the first place. People ask me all the time "Stephen, how do I know if want to be a physician assistant?" "How doI find healthcare experience?" Or how do I find PAs to shadow?" These are all reasonable questions, but the answer is quite simple: You walk out your door with a smile on your face, and you get to work! Which brings me to step number two: Step 2: Get off your butt and start working in a healthcare field and in your community You willnever know if the PA profession is right for you unless you are working in healthcare. There are many ways to do this, and yes, it may require some work on your behalf, but it's no skin off your back. You want to be a PA, you love patients, and you will do anything to make people's lives better. Right? A lot of people have a lot of excuses as to why they "can't get healthcare experience." But the majority of this is just laziness. Nobody cares that you have a full load of college courses, or if that CNA degree program conflicts with your spin class, or if you are working a full-time job, or if your car broke down last week, or any of the other five million excuses I hear as to why people can't get healthcare experience hours. Personally, the day I knew I wanted to be a PA is the day I started working my ass off to become one. And so should you. Start working and serving in organizations within your community that help people: Food kitchens, youth summer programs, health support at local races, crisis lines, needle exchanges, churches, health fairs, senior service agencies, hospitals, daycares, homeless health centers, trash pickup, nursing homes, meals on wheels, etc. etc. etc. You name it; you should be there bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to lend a helping hand. If you are the type of person who likes to hold a medical certificate, take a 1-2-month night or summer program and obtain your certification (Step 6). I started working immediately even before college. I remember grabbing a sheet of paper from my high school's student job board which led to a paid opportunity helping elderly home-bound families in my community. I worked at Burger King the summer before college and was part of a community organization that taught recycling to elementary schools across the county. When I went to college, I walked directly into the student health center and offered my services - paid or not. Sensing a good deal, they immediately gave me a job in medical records for a couple of hours a day. After one year they needed help in the laboratory, so they trained me to be a phlebotomist, which led to me making connections throughout the entire University healthcare system which led to a few reference letters and eventually to my PA school acceptance. I took night classes and received my EMT certification and even sat for an interview for The Seattle Fire Department. I worked for two years after college for the mobile unit of The Puget Sound Blood Center. After six months I was already working as a supervisor. I got my CPR and BLS certifications. I received my phlebotomy certification. Do anything and everything you can to get healthcare experience. You need a no-excuses mindset. If you aren't getting health care experience, it's your fault. So get started now. Step 3:Create a CASPA Account Today I could probably move this up to step number one. There is no penalty for creating a CASPA account early. CASPA is the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants and creating an account is free and will provide you with an essential framework for your PA journey. You can add/remove PA schools from across the country to get a sneak peek on prerequisite requirements, gain a valuable understanding of additional documents that may be required, see what questions PA schools are asking and create a structure for your application. Simply put, the earlier you understand and familiarize yourself with CASPA the better! So, don't wait, if you haven't already, create an account today. Step 4: Work Your Ass Off and Crush your Prerequisites OK, let me say one thing quickly here. I am not a straight A student, and you certainly don't have to be. So, don't go saying to yourself "well I am just not smart enough," or "I have bad grades, and I will never get into PA school." Trust me I get it, let's flashback to my sophomore year in college when my guidance counselor told me straight up that I had no future in medicine. I won't lie, this led to a serious period of self-reflection, depression and eventually redirection. But I regrouped, dusted off my inner confidence, found a new guidance counselor, changed my major and hit go. Then I crushed it. Take that evil guidance counselor! The point is: anything worth doing in life is going to be hard. Maybe you are one of the lucky few, and you were born with a photographic memory, so test taking is a breeze. Perhaps you are gifted with social skills; maybe you are just a really hard worker, maybe you are radiating human kindness. Whatever your special skill is, identify it early and exploit the hell out of it. My skill is that I can endure a tremendous amount of suffering, I care deeply about humanity, and I have a killer smile . So I have had to align myself with people who value these traits. Some PA schools say to hell with community college and will only accept students with a 3.75 GPA and four-year university coursework. Not for me! But, maybe this works well for the student with the photographic memory. So, you mustfind schools and people who align with your core values. Seek them out, and your path to PA school will straighten. Oh yes, I almost forgot, you MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE REQUIRED PREREQUISITES to become a competitive applicant at the schools for which you wish to apply. Yep, all of them, not some of them, not just the ones you like, but ALL of them. And, you CAN NOT take the easy route. Which means if they require Biology 1 you take Biology 3, if they don't require a Spanish elective, you become bilingual and work in a healthcare center treating farmworkers in your community. Aim high, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone, do your best, and you will be a better applicant because of it. Step 5: Join Professional Organizations If you are not, at a minimum, a member of the AAPA and your state PA societyshame on you. So, if you are not a member, stop what you are doing right now and join. The icing on the cake is that this is the only time in your life that these memberships will be affordable so take advantage of it while you can. Trust me, once you are a practicing PA the $300 plus membership fee will make you yearn for the days of old. AAPA affiliate memberships ($100/year) State PA Chapter(about $30) Physician Assistants for Global Health ($15) Physicians for a National Health Program Subscribe to the PAEA Journal On the same note, you should attend the annual conferences offered by these institutions. They will beoffered at a reduced price as part of your membership, and it is a wonderful way to network. Step 6: Get a Certificate (or three) I mentioned this briefly in step three because, for many, part of gaining healthcare experience is getting a certificate that will make you a productive member of a healthcare team. Many of these training programs can be completed within a matter of months/days. Also, the tuition can be relatively inexpensive if you complete the training program at a community college, state-funded technical school, or adult education program. Beware of the for-profit entities that charge $15,000+ for the same CNA or MA training you would be able to obtain at a fraction of the cost elsewhere. You should undoubtedly complete yourBLS/CPR training Consider stepping up your game and becoming ACLS and PALS certified Become HIPPA certified ($29 online) More advanced certificates: Restorative Nurse Assistant Certificate of Competency ($100) 16 hours: Allows you to work as a physical and occupational therapist in the skilled nursing home Pharmacy Technician Program ($1,000) Emergency medical technician ($1,100). Here is the course I tookat North Seattle Community College back in the day. Take an EKG Technical certification program ($1,000) Phlebotomy certification can often be obtained in 1-2 months Take a Medical Terminology Course and receive a certificate of competency ($150) Certified nursing assistant (CNA) or medical assistant (MA) Become a certified medical scribe Become Red Cross Licensed Training Provider Here is an example of what is available in my area through the Pajaro adult education department in Santa Cruz County, CA. You can find similar opportunities in your region by performing a Google search for "EMT courses near me community college," or "Certified Nursing Assistant course near me adultschool." Search and refine until you find affordable options that offer a timeframe and hours that will fit with your schedule. I received most of my training on the job, so you don't have to wait to complete a certification program to begin working. At my current office, only a few of my non-PA/MD/NP colleagues have medical certificates. Those that don't have been trained on the spot. This is the case for our two medical scribes and surgery room assistants, both who intend to apply to PA school. Step 7: Apply to PA School Everything you have likely read online makes the CASPA application seem like an insurmountable beast of an opponent. But completing your CASPA application won't be hard if you have taken the steps outlined in this blog post. Surprise, you have everything you need to apply to PA school! You made it here because you found your PA passion. And because of this burning desire obtaining healthcare experience hours and completing the necessary prerequisite coursework was just a natural byproduct of your innate drive. In other words, you got to do what you love, and you succeeded because of it. You have been working in the medical profession, so you have made invaluable connections. People trust you, and they are eager to say how much they love you by providing three exceptional letters of recommendation. If it was required you prepared for and took the GRE. You have shadowed several PAs because you work with a couple of them in your current clinical setting. You bought them each a cup of coffee and took them out for lunch while you picked their brain. You sought PAs out in every capacity. Now, let's look at the CASPA application. It is divided into four sections (but you already knew that right?). 1. Personal information (7 sections) Biographic information Contact information Citizenship Information Race and Ethnicity Other information Family Information Environmental Factors 2. Academic history (4 sections) High School Attended Colleges Attended Transcript Entry Standardized Tests: GRE, MCAT, TOEFL (if necessary) 3. Supporting information (7 sections) Evaluations: You must have a minimum of 3 requested evaluations to submit your application. You may enter a maximum of 5. Experiences:List employment, internships and volunteer experiences. Achievements:List of awards, honors, and scholarships. Licenses and Certifications Essay Release Statement Memberships 4. Program Materials (will be dependent on the schools and how many you applied to) University 1: Documents: CV/Resume, Catalog Course Description, License, Military papers, Other, Publication, shadowing/healthcare hours Prerequisites Questions (2000 characters each) How has your healthcare experience and community service activities influenced your decision to become a Physician Assistant? How has your approach to your academic coursework prepared you to be a successful PA student? Describe your greatest strength and your greatest weakness as it pertains to becoming a PA student and a graduate PA. Describe your exposure to PAs in clinical practice. Do you speak fluently another language in addition to English? If yes, please list. Why did you choose to apply to the RBHS - SHP PA Program? If you are reapplying to Rutgers PA Program, what is different about your candidacy since the last time you applied? University 2: Documents Prerequisites Questions (yes or no) Have you completed a minimum of 50 hours directly shadowing a Physician Assistant? Have you completed a minimum of 250 hours observing or participating in the delivery of healthcare in a clinical environment? Have you applied to Lake Erie College's Physician Assistant Program in previous application cycles? University 3: Documents: CV/Resume, Military Papers, Catalog Course Description Prerequisites Questions: Have you ever applied to the Drexel University PA program in a previous application cycle? If you answered Yes to the above question, in which previous application cycle(s) did you apply? Select all that apply. Have you ever applied to other PA programs (but not Drexel University) in a previous application cycle? If you have previously applied to any PA program, how have you grown as an applicant since the last cycle you applied in? Many schools require supplemental materials. If you have followed the steps above answering any additional question and providing extra information will be easy peasy lemon squeezy. And if you are wondering about your PA school essay, it will only be as good as the experiences that got you to this point. These experiences are meaningful and profound. Your life is no less impressive than the person sitting next to you. Writing an essay is as simple as being mindfully aware of what has gotten you to this point: your achievements, struggles, background, and experiences. Most importantly how all of this answers your "why" of becoming a physician assistant. And if you still need some help with your PA school essay consider hiring my team of experienced professionals totie it all together for you. Step 8: Be Yourself and Nail Your Interview The day before my PA school interview I made a journey from Albany to New York Pennsylvania Station and then to NJ on a southbound transit train in zero degree weather in the heart of a rough East Coast winter. It was my second time to NY City, and when I stepped out of Penn station into the heart of Manhattan and into Times Square, I was offered a seat to attend the Late Show with David Letterman. How's that for a friendly welcome to the City! I took the free seat without hesitation. These were the days before Uber and cell phones, so after the show, I stumbled my way back to the transit center and boarded a bus to Piscataway NJ where I was scheduled to have an early morninginterview at Rutgers. I found my hotel room and tried to get some sleep, which of course I didn't. Upon arrival at Rutgers PA Program HQ, I was greeted by an enthusiastic group of PA students and 20 or so applicants. We assembled into a room and mingled for about an hour until my name was called. I was then escorted into another room with three friendly PA school faculty eager to ask me questions. Remember, the purpose of every step of your journey up to this point has been to prepare you for the day of your interview. Interviews are only as hard as whatever weakness you are trying to cover up. Over the years, I have found that my ability to interview successfully has very little to do with the interviewitself and a lot more to do with how much I understand and believe in the topic I am being interviewed about. How much do you believe you want to be a PA? This should be an easy question to answer. It is reflected 100% in how many HCE hours you have accumulated, how many PAs you have shadowed, what kind of letters of recommendation you have, your GPA, GRE scores and volunteer experiences. It is reflected in your smile, your handshake, and your enthusiasm to be there. When they ask you "what kind of stress do you see associated with the PA profession?" Well, you have worked alongside PAs for years, you have shadowed PAs, you understand what they do and what their day looks like. The answer is an easy one. When they ask you "what have you done to increase your chances of being accepted into our PA program?" You can't wait to tell them about your experiences working in the homeless health service center; the nights spent taking extra classes to make up for a couple of bad undergraduate grades, and the work you do as a volunteer with theCrisis Text Line. When you are asked to "describe an interaction you had with a patient that made an impact on you," Maria Gutierrez immediately comes to mind. You remember how this 90-year-old mother of 10 would come to your office every month for her INR check. You remember how she would take your hand and wish that God would bless you. You remember how much you loved her smile and the generations of family that would come with her to each visit. You illustrate how through her grace she has taught you about what is important in life. Books on interviews remind us that "the admissions committee selects candidates on the basis of emotion (likability, credibility, and trust) and justifies that decision with the facts (GPA, GRE scores, and medical experience)." You see, you can sit and read for hours about how to be likable, credible, and trustworthy. How to dress for impact, and how you should smile at your PA school interview. But you will not need to worry about any of this if you have a real passion and desire to serve. You can't fake a service mindset, even when covered by layers of nervousness and baggy eyes from a lack of sleep and jitters from way too much coffee and that brown spot from the coffee you spilled on your tie accidentally on your way to the interview. You can't fake years of hard work and determination. The good news is: you don't have too. Celebrate Your Success Whether youre a first-time applicant or a reapplicant, these eight steps are a blueprint for mastering the application process. The reason becoming a PA is now more competitive than ever is because the word got out. PAs holds a sacred place in healthcare. And very similar to becoming a doctor, as a PA, you will be one of the most integral parts of a patient's care and recovery. But just remember, the nurses will still get more flowers and pastries and don't touch their pastries unless you have been told to do so. I have never regretted my decision to become a PA, and I know you won't either. If you need help any step of the way, drop me a line. We offer many services to help you wherever you may find yourself on the journey. With your passion, commitment, motivation, and patience, you will soon rise to the top of the applicant pool much faster than if you go it alone. Youll become a much more confident applicant, youll get more interviews, and youll be a Physician Assistant Student (PA-S) before you know it. - Stephen Our Services Whether you a perfecting your PA school application essay, finalizing your resume/cv, preparing for your first PA school interview, or studying for your PANCE or PANRE board exam, I have put together a collection of services to fit every budget and an ever-growing number of needs. Essay Editing Resume Templates Free Practice Exams Mock Interviews You may also like -The Pre-PA Advisor Series: Patient Contact Hours and Healthcare Experience The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series - a special series of postswhere PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the []How to Find The Direct Patient Care Experience You Need to Become a Physician Assistant Read on: But you may also be interested in my newest post Healthcare Experience Required for PA School: The Ultimate Guide I could probably summarize this entire blog post with the following sentence: "THE MORE HANDS-ON PATIENT []The Perfect PA Program Picker: PA School Requirements and Admissions Tool 2018-2019 PA School Admissions and Requirements Table Search and sort through all 256 accredited and developing PA school programs by healthcare experience, resident and non-resident PA school tuition, PA program duration, GRE []

How to Remove Super Glue (Cyanoacrylate Adhesive)

Super Glue is a strong, fast-acting adhesive that sticks to just about anything almost instantly, so its easy to accidentally glue your fingers together or drip the glue onto clothes or surfaces. Even though it sets quickly and wont wash off, you can remove Super Glue with acetone. Acetone: The Anti-Super Glue Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Its impervious to water, but it can be dissolved in an organic solvent such as acetone. Some nail polish removers contain acetone, but be sure to check the label because many acetone-free products are available and will not dissolve Super Glue. You can find pure acetone in stores that sell home or art supplies because it is a useful solvent. If you view the Material Safety Data Sheet for acetone, youll see its flammable and toxic, so its not a chemical you want to ingest or inhale. It is absorbed into the skin on contact. It dehydrates and de-fats skin, so wash any spills with soap and water and apply a moisturizer, if possible. Removing Super Glue How you apply the acetone depends on what you stuck together with the glue. Do not apply acetone to your eyes or lips, but its still possible to remove Super Glue from other areas. Fabric: Acetone will remove Super Glue from fabric, but it may discolor the material or alter its texture. Work acetone into the affected area from both sides. Use a gloved finger or a soft-bristled toothbrush. The acetone will dissolve the glue and be rinsed away by still more acetone. Acetone evaporates quickly, but wash any fabrics that can withstand cleaning. Glass: Super Glue does not bond very well to glass, so you can scrape it off. It may help to soak the affected area in water until the glue is loosened. Acetone wont harm glass, but its use shouldnt be necessary. Counters and surfaces: Acetone dissolves Super Glue on counters and surfaces, but it may harm varnish on wood. It will cause some plastics to become cloudy in appearance and it may discolor some materials. Try to pry or scrape off the adhesive using acetone as a last resort. Skin: For fingers and most body parts, remove Super Glue by soaking the skin in warm water and then slowly peeling away the glue. You can usually pull the stuck skin apart because your skin is more likely to tear than to detach from the glue using this method. If necessary, apply a small amount of acetone using a cotton swab. Since acetone is toxic, avoid using it if possible. If you do need to use acetone, apply only the smallest amount needed to remove the glue. When to Seek Medical Help If you stick together lips or eyelids or if Super Glue gets stuck on an eyeball, contact a physician: Do not use acetone. The cyanoacrylate adhesive bonds instantly to moist areas, so its nearly impossible to swallow liquid Super Glue or for it to travel far into the eyes. Thats the good news. The bad news is that youll have to wait for your cells to rid themselves of the glue on their own. Fortunately, eye and lip tissue regenerates very quickly, so the glue naturally detaches. If you get Super Glue on your eyeball or eyelids, you may wish to wear an eye patch or cover it with gauze. The glue naturally detaches from an eyeball after several hours. According to Super Glue Corporation, there are no known cases of permanent damage from this type of injury. It may take a couple of days to unstick eyelids or lips, although tears and saliva hasten the removal. People who have stuck their lips together tend to work at it with their tongue, but even if you leave the area alone, it will un-stick in one to two days.

Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 1054 Words

Historically, marijuana has been an illegal substance in Canada since 1923, mainly because of the perspective that the harmful consequences of its abuse and its addictive nature outweigh the significant benefits of making it a legal drug. Although laws have evolved as culture and society has evolved, Canada continues to struggle with the decriminalization of marijuana, despite its numerous benefits, it continues to form an archaic boundary line. This essay will discuss: 1) how laws regarding the possession of marijuana have evolved; 2) how public attitudes have changed; and 3) the reasons why current laws should be changed to legalize marijuana. In 1908, the Opium Act restricted Canadians use, sale, and importation of opium (Carstairs).†¦show more content†¦This was done at a time when racial tensions were high and possibly contributed to the criminalization of marijuana. In 1969, the Canadian government established a Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs. They were known as the Le Dain Commission, named after its chair Dean Gerald Le Dain (Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws). By 1972 Gerald Le Dain along with other members of the inquiry recommended the abolishment of the restriction of marijuana for independent use. As time progressed, societies and nations became more aware of the various uses of marijuana, which came as a result of research and increased knowledge about the potential benefits of marijuana. Other countries began to change their laws towards the decriminalization of marijuana. In 1976, the Netherlands officially legalized the use of marijuana (Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws). One year after, Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, in an address to a group of students stated, â€Å"If you have a joint and you re smoking it for your private pleasure, you shouldn t be hassled(Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws).Also in the United States, New Mexico passed the first state law, acknowledging the medicinal value of marijuana, and followed by California as the first state to officially legalize medicinal marijuana (Marijuana: Key dates in the

Child Abuse and Neglect In Australia

Question: Discuss about the Child Abuse and Neglect In Australia. Answer: Introduction It has been observed that the child abuse is becoming more prevalent in Australia. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the child abuse. For addressing the discussion in a proper way it is anticipated that the historical perspective of the child neglect and child abuse are put as a subject and debated further. The various developments in the past twenty years have placed the child abuse on the top of the agenda. The various countries like Australia began to acknowledge the existence of the child abuse during the 1970s. There have been various mandatory laws that have been introduced in the various Australian Territories and States. Recently even the public awareness has been increased of the issues that are connected with the child neglect and child abuse. All these awareness are due to the increase in the newspaper coverage, radio and television.(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare., 2015) It has been explained in the first settlement in Australia Scott Swain that the definition of child abuse is always covered in normative and deviant context of the rearing practices of the child and it falls within the context of historical and cultural context. It has been estimated by Fabion Loh that there are one quarter of convicts until the 1820s and all were under the age of 18 years. It is a public and a social health problem as well as a childrens right issue in the countries like Australia. There can be adverse consequences of the neglect and the abuse of the child and the young people. Child abuse is very much prevalent in various countries like Australia and now it has become very easy to be spoken about and accept the social issue. (Beckett, 2003)There are useful frameworks provided by the Socio-economic factors but these are not complete. There has been mandatory reporting and the sharing of information in regards to child abuse these days. The government has also star ted taking various initiatives for its prevention and intervention. Historical Perspective The cruelty to the children has always been there the evidence of the mistreatment of the children through the hands of the adults has been described throughout the ages and across various societies. If we look back in to the history than according to Smith the children has always been maimed, killed, starved, neglected and abandoned with cruelty. It is very well said that the child neglect and abuse is not something unique in the 21st century. If we look back in to the history then we can find that the first wave of child protection movement had already arrived in Australia in the last decade of the nineteenth century when there was a realization on the part of people that something needs to be done for the protection of the children those who were being ill treated by various people that included their families.(Bromfield, 2004) Cradock (2013) outlines that there must be a distinction made between the early days of the child protection movement in the nineteenth century where the focus was on child saving of children from impoverished environments and what is now understood as more a pathological form of child abuser. The differing definitions of child abuse in all forms is further complicated by how to distinguish a child abuser from a non-abuser, as there is a wide range of services and professions each with differing knowledge and expertise along with the fundamentally political aspect of child protection services and funding restrictions that will always affect varied knowledge construction and resultant specialist practices (Cradock, 2013). The Australian Government defines child abuse as any kind of non accidental behavior by the parents, other adults, the caregivers or any other older person that is outside the norms of the conduct and further entails a risk of causing any kind of emotional or physical harm to the young person or the child. These behaviors may be intentional or un-intentional and can also include the act of omission like the commission or neglect.(CFCA Resource Sheet, 2005). It has been seen that the main indicator of the child abuse is poverty but poverty itself does not means that the child is at a risk of being abused. Basically the child abuse is one of the umbrellas that cover all the maltreatment that are suffered by the children at the hands of the other people. There has been a different variation in the form of legal and operational of child abuse in Australia due to which it is not very easy to provide a consistent data regarding the incidence of child abuse. The child abuse or maltreatment has been divided in to four main forms that include physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional abuse.(Child Family Community Australia., 2012) Physical Abuse is a term that is defined as a non-accidental injury caused physically to a child and the physical abuse is considered to be one of the core forms of child abuse and maltreatment since the ages. The roots of the physical abuse include the physical punishments. It was noted by Radbill (1974:3) that there is a necessity of physical punishments to the children that are very severe for the maintenance of discipline, for pleasing certain gods, expelling evil spirits or transmitting the educational ideas. It has been written by Randbill these physical punishments have been given to the children since the early ages and there were also laws for the same. Though there were some people who use to speak out against the extreme physical punishment.(Holzer, 2008) There can be a physical injury that can occur from a single or a repeated episode. The physical injury may take the form of minor injury to the major form that is death.(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012) Neglect, the child neglect became a social concern after the industrial revolution throughout the western world. There were many orphanages, factories and work houses where the children work as the laborers.(Bacon, 2001) The children here were kept as slave labor as the demands for the services of the children were growing by the development of the industrial revolution in the late 19th century. Under these areas the children as young as 5 years used to work for 16 hours a day , were beaten and were also starved due to which they suffered variety of illnesses. The various concerns for the neglected and abandoned children resulted for the formation of the first child protection society and child rescue that resulted in the enactment of the first legislation that was designed to protect the children. Infanticide, when the physical abuse and neglect are taken to its extremes than it results in exposure and infanticide and these are the universal forms of fatal child abuse that has been practiced through the centuries. In the rural Europe until 1980s there were basically the girls who were in particular to the risk of death and being sold.(Baer, 2006) Sexual Abuse, it is basically the use of the child be it a male or a female for sexual gratification by an adult or an older child, it has been occurring throughout the history. The sexual abuse use to take place in the families it self when in the late 16th century various legislations were enacted in England due to which the children were being protected from the sexual abuse. With the passage of time many educators started taking initiative of warning the parents of keeping an eye on the children all the time and keeping it ensured that the children were never naked in front of the other adults so that the children could be protected from the sexual abuse.(Brewerton, 2007) Emotional abuse, it is also known as psychological maltreatment. It is a verbal abuse or harassment to a child by an adult with a main aim of damaging the confidence level and the self esteem of the child. There is no physical injury left by the emotional abuse due to which it is the most common form of hidden maltreatment. There are different forms of maltreatment in the case of emotional abuse at different rates and cultures.(Brodsky, 2008) Prevalence According to the various researches it has been found out that there were around 49,721 cases of child abuse in Australia during the year 1990-91 that were investigated by the territory welfare department and the state. Approximately forty five percent of the cases were substantiated and around seven percent were assessed. There has been a continuous awareness rather than an increase in the children that are being neglected and abused ever since the statics has been kept by the State Welfare Departments.(Bromfield L. ., 2005) This can be due to the awareness in the greater parts of the community. There have been various educational and legislative changes that are being adopted to look in to the matter of child abuse. Mandatory reporting and other preventive measures Mandatory reporting means the general laws that are passed by the parliament and the other designated officer that requires the various other designated officers to report the cases that are suspected and known in relation to the child abuse that further includes the sexual abuse. These reports of the suspected or the known cases shall be made to the various government authorities. The mandatory reporting laws are distinct from the various other industry based obligations and legal laws that are related to the criminal conduct and other types of misconduct. The people who are covered under this law for the purpose of reporting includes the people who deal with the children in the course of their work and include doctors, nurses, police and teachers and the people who at any time encounter the cases of child abuse shall report these cases to the child welfare agencies. In the 21st century it has become very important that there shall be reporting mechanisms and the information shall b e shared from time to time by various agencies so that a more comprehensive picture is being enabled about the children that are being at risk of being abused and further appropriate and timely actions can be taken. All these needs of information sharing has led to the coming up of the mandatory reporting and preventive measures.(Coohey, 2011) The child sexual abuse has become very common fact these days due to which the government has chosen various mandatory reporting laws for measuring the social policy, crime prevention and the public health. The annual incidence that was recorded by the government officially and the various child protection agencies in the countries like Australia ha been quite stable in the past eight years and has been recorded to be between 3400 and 4800 Australian children being abused annually from the year 2004 to 2013.(Cook, 2005) However it has been seen that the real incidence that has been recorded is far being higher than the recorded. It has been founded by the research of recent global review that highest amount of girls are being abused in the countries like Australia. It has been noted that various reasons arise for the gap between the real incidences and the official incidences. One of the most prominent reasons that have been noted for this gap is that there are many cases that has no t been reported or investigated by the various authorities of the government.(Cyr, 2010) There are various adverse consequences that are suffered by the children who are being sexually abused though it has been found that the severity of the consequences might vary from the individual to individual. These consequences might lead to physical injury to mental or psychological injury along with the negative effects on the socialization and behavior of the children. The main and the immediate consequences of this include stress, traumatic disorder, low self esteem and depression. It has been found by the various researches that there is high suicide rates and accidental fatal drug overdose in the case of the children who are the victims of the sexual abuse. (Dubowitz, 2007)There is an emotional abuse when the child is being abused sexually and it also has severe consequences. Child Physical abuse: A battered Child syndrome One of the first reporting laws that were used for the welfare of the child abuse was the work of Colorado pediatrician that included C Henry Kempe along with his various colleagues those who were indulged in the identification of the cases of the child abuse and they conceptualize it as a battered child syndrome.(Edidin, 2012) The Battered Child syndrome was defined by Kempe as a term that is used to categories a condition that is clinical in the children who are young and have received serious abuse in the form of physical abuse and is a cause of death and childhood disability .This problem can occur at any age but generally the affected children includes the children who are younger than 3 years of age. (English, 2004) Overview of the developments in Australia It has been researched that there has been first Australian laws for reporting the cases of child abuse in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The first law that is the Australian Mandatory reporting law came in to being in 1969 in South Australia.(Evans, 2005) It has been consistently supported by the Australian government that the Australian mandatory laws are very necessary component for the social policy and they respond to the child sexual abuse. The examples of this include: The Layton Review in South Australia in the year 2003 The wood enquiry in the year 2008 in New south Wales The Cummins, Scales and Scott inquiry in Victoria in the year 2012 Conclusion It has been concluded from the various researches that the child abuse has been becoming more prevalent in Australia. There are wide ranges of consequences that are faced by the children who are being abused sexually or physically. Though there have been various preventive measures that are being taken by the government to overcome this issue and look in to the matter. (Flaherty, 2009)It is the responsibility of the Australian government to protect the children from being abused and this issue cannot be ignored at all. There shall be effective child abuse prevention that can also be developed from the family that is strong and has a service base. Along with the government it is the responsibility of the guardian and the family to keep a vigilant eye on the children and protect them from being abused. The government t, community and the individuals shall work in conjunction to eliminate this issue from the society and keep the students safe protected and happy so that they enjoy their childhood freely rather than being abused. Bibliography Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2012). Census of population and housing: Estimating homelessness. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2015). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 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