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About the Standard

This Standard creates specific obligations for RTOs to involve families and communities in promoting child safety.

RTOs must ensure that they:

  • seek the input of families and communities in decisions impacting children
  • involve families and communities when they develop and review their child safe policies and practices
  • communicate effectively with families and communities about:
    • how to raise concerns about child safety
    • how the RTO operates
  • take the diversity of families into account
  • act to reduce barriers to inclusion.

How to comply

An RTO must be able to provide evidence of:

  • a commitment in the RTO’s policies and communication resources to the importance of involving families and communities in decisions affecting students that are children
  • transparent and accessible information and engagement processes for families and communities
  • how it consults with or asks families, carers and the community to participate in decisions affecting students who are children
  • how it consults with families, carers and the community about the RTO's child safe governance.

Examples of compliance

An RTO complying with this Standard may have:

  • website publication of the policies and communication resources that commit to involve families and communities in decisions affecting students that are children
  • communication or engagement resources that include information on the importance of involving families and communities regarding decisions affecting students that are children
  • a business plan or strategy that details the RTO's activities relating to the engagement of the families and communities of its students who are children
  • student support services and resources that focus on the role of families and communities in supporting children.
  • In complying with Child Safe Standard 4, an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

    • families participate in decisions affecting their child
    • the organisation engages and openly communicates with families and the community about its child safe approach and relevant information is accessible
    • families and communities have a say in the development and review of the organisation’s policies and practices
    • families, carers and the community are informed about the organisation’s operations and governance.

Reviewed 24 June 2022

Child Safe Standards

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