Complying with the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 1 requires your organisation to ensure that all children feel safe and are safe when participating in your organisation. This includes Aboriginal children. Being able to express their cultural identity makes Aboriginal children stronger and safer. Implementing this Standard requires organisations to consider attitudes and practices that are a barrier to providing a culturally safe environment and to address racism in all its forms.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 1 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

1.1. A child’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights is encouraged and actively supported.

1.2 Strategies are embedded within the organisation which equip all members to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children and young people.

1.3 Measures are adopted by the organisation to ensure racism within the organisation is identified, confronted and not tolerated. Any instances of racism are addressed with appropriate consequences.

1.4 The organisation actively supports and facilitates participation and inclusion within it by Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

1.5 All of the organisation’s policies, procedures, systems and processes together create a culturally safe and inclusive environment and meet the needs of Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

The compliance indicators for Child Safe Standard 1 are divided into foundation steps and further steps. This recognises that establishing a culturally safe environment takes time, dedication and meaningful engagement.

Foundation steps will help organisations to establish a culturally safe environment while further steps will help your organisation build on the work already done to become a culturally safe organisation.

Foundation steps

Documents

• A public commitment to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children is available and displayed for public access.
• Policies and procedures relating to child safety and wellbeing, including the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, describe the organisation’s commitment to respecting and valuing Aboriginal children. This includes that:
  • staff and volunteers must encourage and support children to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights
  • staff and volunteers must actively support and facilitate participation and inclusion within the organisation by Aboriginal children and their families
  • racism will not be tolerated within the organisation and how the organisation will respond, including potential consequences
  • the organisation’s leadership has a responsibility to help everyone involved with the organisation to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children.
• The Code of Conduct and position descriptions outline expectations of staff and volunteer behaviour including:
  • zero tolerance of racism and expectations that staff and volunteers will act on incidents of racism
  • that children will be supported to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.
• A plan of action sets out the steps the organisation will take to establish and maintain a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children are respected and valued.

Actions

• Instances of racism are consistently identified and addressed.
• The organisation identifies steps already taken to:
  • support, guide or train staff, volunteers, and leaders to understand, respect and value Aboriginal culture and to understand the importance of this to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children
  • actively support and facilitate participation and inclusion of Aboriginal children and their families
  • recognise and celebrate Aboriginal peoples, their achievements, communities and cultures
  • ensure racism within the organisation is identified and appropriately addressed
  • create a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal children within the organisation.
• Identify actions the organisation needs to take to fully implement Standard 1, considering steps already taken and any gaps identified. A plan of action should identify the person or team responsible for taking action, the resources available and the timeframe.

Further steps

Documents

• Policies and procedures, including the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, describe the organisation’s expectations and provide detailed guidance about actions staff, volunteers and leaders must take to establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children are respected and valued.

Actions

• The organisation creates an inclusive and welcoming physical and online environment for Aboriginal children and their families by acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal peoples, communities, cultures and values.
• All children receive information from the organisation about cultural rights, and the organisation takes active steps to encourage Aboriginal children to express their culture. When children express their culture, staff and volunteers in the organisation give them support.
• The organisation takes steps to empower children in the organisation and provide them with opportunities to participate in a way that is culturally safe for Aboriginal children.
• The organisation provides culturally safe opportunities for Aboriginal families to participate in the organisation.
• The organisation provides members of the organisation’s community with:
  • information on cultural rights, the strengths of Aboriginal cultures and the importance of culture to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children
  • information on the connection between cultural safety and the prevention of child abuse and harm for Aboriginal children
  • opportunities to learn and express appreciation of Aboriginal cultures and histories.
• Strategies that encourage the organisation’s community to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal cultures are developed, implemented and embedded into the organisation.
• Strategies to prevent racism are implemented and incidents of racism are not tolerated.

Understanding cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 2 requires organisations to take planned steps to protect children. Creating and maintaining a child safe culture in your organisation sends a clear message that child abuse and harm will not be tolerated. This culture must be embedded in all parts of your organisation and driven by strong leadership and governance.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 2 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

2.1 The organisation makes a public commitment to child safety.

2.2 A child safe culture is championed and modelled at all levels of the organisation from the top down and bottom up.

2.3 Governance arrangements facilitate implementation of the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy at all levels.

2.4 A Code of Conduct provides guidelines for staff and volunteers on expected behavioural standards and responsibilities.

2.5 Risk management strategies focus on preventing, identifying and mitigating risks to children and young people.

2.6  Staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and record keeping.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• A public commitment to child safety is available and displayed for public access.
• The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy sets out the organisation’s expectations and practices in relation to each of the Child Safe Standards.
• A Code of Conduct sets out expectations regarding behaviour of staff and volunteers with children and in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing.

Actions

• Leaders, staff, volunteers, members and children in the organisation champion and model a child safe culture. They express support for keeping children safe, take action when they have concerns about children’s safety and prioritise the safety of children as part of everyday practice.
• Leaders set clear expectations around child safety and ensure the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is implemented by staff and volunteers.
• Leaders promote a culture of reporting.
• Governance arrangements mean senior leaders regularly review the organisation’s performance in delivering child safety and wellbeing.
• Governance arrangements mean senior leaders supervise whether risk assessment and management in the organisation is properly focused on identifying, preventing and reducing risks of child abuse and harm.
• Staff and volunteers understand their information sharing and record keeping obligations.
• The Code of Conduct is communicated to all staff and volunteers and leaders hold them to account to comply with it.

Steps to develop or update your Code of Conduct

Creating a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

A guide for creating a Child Safe organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 3 requires organisations to uphold children’s rights to be heard on matters that affect them and contribute to the organisations they engage with. Implementing this Standard means you are best meeting the needs of children you interact with. It creates a culture where children feel respected and confident to speak up, particularly if they are harmed or feel unsafe.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 3 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

3.1 Children and young people are informed about all of their rights, including to safety, information and participation.

3.2 The importance of friendships is recognised and support from peers is encouraged, to help children and young people feel safe and be less isolated.

3.3 Where relevant to the setting or context, children and young people are offered access to sexual abuse prevention programs and to relevant related information in an age-appropriate way.

3.4 Staff and volunteers are attuned to signs of harm and facilitate child-friendly ways for children and young people to express their views, participate in decision-making and raise their concerns.

3.5 Organisations have strategies in place to develop a culture that facilitates participation and is responsive to the input of children and young people.

3.6 Organisations provide opportunities for children and young people to participate and are responsive to their contributions, thereby strengthening confidence and engagement.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• Age-appropriate and easy to understand documents, in print or online, are easily accessible and support children to:
  • understand their rights, including to safety, information and participation
  • know how adults in the organisation should behave
  • understand the organisation’s complaints process and how to raise safety concerns for themselves, their friends or peers
  • know about support services aimed at children.
• The organisation’s policies and procedures:
  • promote children’s empowerment and participation
  • embed support for the rights of children.

Actions

• Staff and volunteers in the organisation engage with children to help them to:
  • understand their rights, including to safety, information and participation
  • know how adults in the organisation should behave
  • understand the organisation’s complaints process and how to raise safety concerns for themselves, their friends or peers
  • know about support services aimed at children.
• Practices in the organisation that disempower children are identified and action is taken to change them.
• Staff and volunteers are provided with information to help them understand, recognise and act on signs of child abuse or harm.
• Where relevant, the organisation provides access to sexual abuse prevention programs and other relevant information to children in an age-appropriate and accessible manner.
• The organisation creates opportunities for children to express their views and participate in decisions that impact them. What is heard and learnt from children influences how the organisation works.
• Staff and volunteers are supported to develop knowledge and skills to help children participate, express their views and raise their concerns.
• The organisation supports children to develop social connections and friendships with their peers, build skills in children to support their peers and challenge bullying or isolating behaviour between children.

The Commission for Children and Young People has resources to support Child Safe Standard 3 including their Empowerment and Participation Guide and Child and Youth Engagement Framework.

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 4 requires organisations to empower parents, carers, families and communities to play a part in your organisation’s child safety framework. This acknowledges that parents, carers and families are the primary influence on children, and working together will strengthen messages around child safety. Parents and carers can also help organisations learn and improve on their approach to keeping children safe.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 4 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

4.1 Families participate in decisions affecting their child.

4.2 The organisation engages and openly communicates with families and the community about its child safe approach and relevant information is accessible.

4.3 Families and communities have a say in the development and review of the organisation’s policies and practices.

4.4 Families, carers and the community are informed about the organisation’s operations and governance.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• The organisation’s policies reflect the importance of family and community involvement and describe ways this involvement can occur.
• Complaint handling policies include procedures for keeping families informed and provide guidance on how to do this while complying with obligations regarding confidentiality and privacy.

Actions

• The organisation supports families and communities to take an active role in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing by communicating about their role in child safety and wellbeing within the organisation.
• The organisation is open and transparent with families and communities by:
  • providing accessible information about the organisation’s child safety and wellbeing policies and practices
  • providing information about the organisation’s governance and operations, how complaints are handled and how the organisation manages disciplinary actions and child safety risks.
• Families have an opportunity to participate in decisions made by the organisation that impact the safety and wellbeing of their child. Communication with families supports the full diversity of families to participate.
• Opportunities are created for families and community members to provide feedback on the organisation’s policies, procedures and practices including the organisation’s approach to child safety and wellbeing.
• The organisation takes the feedback and involvement of families and communities seriously and takes their views into account.

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 5 requires organisations to consider the diverse circumstances of children and uphold equity. This safeguards children regardless of the child’s personal circumstances. Implementing this Standard means that a child’s safety is not dependent on their circumstances, including their social or economic position, their cultural background or their abilities.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 5 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

5.1 The organisation, including staff and volunteers, understands children and young people’s diverse circumstances, and provides support and responds to those who are vulnerable.

5.2 Children and young people have access to information, support and complaints processes in ways that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand.

5.3 The organisation pays particular attention to the needs of children and young people with disability, children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people.

5.4 The organisation pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal children and young people and provides/promotes a culturally safe environment for them.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• Materials for children, including information about complaints processes and supports, are accessible, age-appropriate and available in a range of languages and formats as needed. Written documents alone are not relied on, particularly for children who are blind or vision impaired, or children who cannot read.
• The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy describes:
  • the organisation’s commitment to equity and inclusion
  • how the organisation will recognise and respect the diverse needs of all children
  • how the organisation provides avenues for children or their families to identify their individual needs
  • how the organisation will provide children with access to information, support and complaints processes in ways that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand
  • how the organisation will support equity and make reasonable changes to support participation by all children and respond to all children’s needs
  • how the organisation upholds equity for all children and prevents child abuse and harm resulting from discrimination based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, intersex status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Actions

• The organisation takes steps to understand the diverse circumstances and needs of children who engage, or may engage, with it.
• Staff and volunteers:
  • are provided with information and guidance about children’s diverse circumstances, how to identify factors that can increase a child’s vulnerability to harm, and how to promote equity and safety for all children
  • take action to support and respond to children who are experiencing vulnerability, including making inquiries and responding where there are signs of increased vulnerability
  • take action to uphold equity for all children, promote children’s safety and prevent child abuse and harm.
• Leaders set clear expectations around achieving equity and respect for diversity.
• The organisation ensures all children are reasonably supported to participate.

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 6 requires organisations to have policies and procedures to make sure staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children. Selecting suitable people to work with children is vital to protecting them from abuse and keeping children safe. Implementing this Standard means your recruitment procedures, induction and people management practices all prioritise and support child safety and wellbeing.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 6 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

6.1 Recruitment, including advertising, referee checks and staff and volunteer pre-employment screening, emphasise child safety and wellbeing.

6.2 Relevant staff and volunteers have current working with children checks or equivalent background checks.

6.3 All staff and volunteers receive an appropriate induction and are aware of their responsibilities to children and young people, including record keeping, information sharing and reporting obligations.

6.4 Ongoing supervision and people management is focused on child safety and wellbeing.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• Employment advertising includes the organisation’s commitment to child safety and wellbeing.
• Position descriptions set clear expectations about the role’s requirements, duties and responsibilities regarding child safety and wellbeing.
• Organisational recruitment, human resources and volunteering policies describe:
  • recruitment practices that support the organisation to appoint people who are suitable to work with children
  • pre-employment screening practices including interviewing, referee checks, Working with Children Check and other registration or background checking
  • requirements for an induction about the organisation’s child safety practices
  • how supervision and people management practices will support ongoing assessment of a person’s suitability to work with children.
• Induction documents for staff and volunteers include:
  • the Code of Conduct
  • the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
  • information about the organisation’s child safety practices and complaints process as well as reporting, record keeping and information sharing obligations.

Actions

• The child safety and wellbeing requirements of each role are assessed before recruitment of new staff and volunteers. These include:
  • qualifications, experience and attributes required
  • duties and responsibilities with children
  • measures required to manage any child abuse or harm risks including screening, training and supervision requirements.
• Information and guidance are provided to recruiting staff on how to prioritise child safety in the recruitment process, including how to identify and manage any child safety concerns raised through the application, interview and screening process.
• Recruitment processes include:
  • a range of values-based interview questions to establish suitability to work with children
  • pre-employment screening practices including referee checks, Working with Children Check and other registration or background checking
  • verification that required qualifications, registrations and Working with Children Check are valid and up-to-date
  • keeping records of the recruitment process.
• Supervision and people management includes regular reviews to check whether staff are following Codes of Conduct and other child safe policies.
• Guidance is provided for people managers on steps to take when managing staff or volunteers whose behaviour raises child safety concerns.
• Qualifications, Working with Children Check and other registration or ongoing screening checks are regularly reviewed for changes and that they are still valid. Action is taken to manage the risks to children when a person’s qualifications, Working with Children Check or other registration or ongoing screening check are no longer valid.
• Staff and volunteers receive an induction adjusted to each role’s requirements, duties, risks and responsibilities in relation to child safety and wellbeing. The induction covers the organisation’s child safety practices and complaints process as well as reporting, record keeping and information sharing obligations.

Practical guide to choosing, supervising and developing suitable staff and volunteers

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 7 requires organisations to have clear policies and procedures that welcome the reporting of concerns. This should include responding to complaints promptly, thoroughly and fairly, and taking immediate action to protect children at risk. Making a complaint should be child-friendly and accessible to everyone in the organisation.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 7 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

7.1 The organisation has an accessible, child-focused complaint handling policy which clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of leadership, staff and volunteers, approaches to dealing with different types of complaints, breaches of relevant policies or the Code of Conduct and obligations to act and report.

7.2 Effective complaint handling processes are understood by children and young people, families, staff and volunteers, and are culturally safe.

7.3 Complaints are taken seriously and responded to promptly and thoroughly.

7.4 The organisation has policies and procedures in place that address reporting of complaints and concerns to relevant authorities, whether or not the law requires reporting, and co-operates with law enforcement.

7.5 Reporting, privacy and employment law obligations are met.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• The complaint handling policy is easy to understand, culturally safe, accessible and child-focused. The complaint handling policy:
  • includes information on how adults and children can make a complaint and how the organisation will respond to and investigate complaints in a prompt and thorough way
  • creates a complaints process that is accessible to the full diversity of children, staff, volunteers, families and communities
  • covers alleged abuse and harm of children by adults and by other children
  • covers breaches of the organisation’s Code of Conduct
  • sets out what support and assistance will be provided for those making a complaint
  • outlines how risks to children will be managed when a complaint is raised and an investigation is underway
  • covers record keeping obligations
  • supports privacy and employment law obligations to be met.
• Documents, in print or online, describe the complaints process for staff, volunteers, children, families and communities.
• Policies and procedures include information about when complaints should be reported to authorities, including Victoria Police, Child Protection and the Social Services Regulator.
• Disciplinary policies support the organisation to take action when a complaint is raised.

Actions

• The organisation makes information about how to make a complaint available and accessible to everyone involved with the organisation.
• The organisation provides staff and volunteers with support and information on what and how to report, including to authorities outside the organisation.
• Complaints are taken seriously, meaning the organisation consistently:
  • identifies and manages any risks to children
  • responds to complaints promptly and thoroughly
  • prioritises the safety of children and also meets privacy and employment law obligations
  • supports everyone involved in the complaints process
  • reports complaints of alleged abuse or harm of children and concerns about child safety to the authorities and cooperates with law enforcement.
• Records are kept of complaints made to the organisation, including concerns raised about the safety of children and disclosures about alleged abuse or harm of children, and actions taken to respond.
• Children, families and communities are consulted when designing and reviewing complaint handling policies and procedures.
• The organisation reviews complaint handling policies and procedures at regular intervals.

National office for Child Safety - Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the rights of children and young people

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 8 requires organisations to equip their staff and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to keep children safe. This can be achieved through the induction process, ongoing training/professional development, and supervision and management. A properly informed and supported staff are more likely to uphold the organisation’s child safe values.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 8 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

8.1 Staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

8.2 Staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people.

8.3 Staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm.

8.4 Staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• A training action plan for staff and volunteers includes training on:
  • the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
  • identifying indicators of child abuse and harm
  • how to support a person making a disclosure about harm to a child
  • how to respond to issues of child safety including internal and external reporting requirements, notifying families and carers and managing risks to children
  • how to support cultural safety.
• Guidance materials (such as policies, procedures, guidelines, information sheets and posters) for staff and volunteers provide guidance about:
  • identifying indicators of child abuse and harm, including where caused by other children
  • how to respond to issues of child safety including internal and external reporting requirements, notifying families and carers and managing risks to children
  • how to support a person disclosing harm to a child
  • how to create culturally safe environments in the organisation.
• A training register records completion of training by staff and volunteers.

Actions

• Leaders communicate to staff and volunteers that child safety training is mandatory.
• Training is provided to staff and volunteers on the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy on induction and at regular intervals.
• Training is provided to staff and volunteers that supports their ability to:
  • identify signs of child abuse and harm
  • respond to issues of child safety including internal and external reporting requirements, notifying families and carers and managing risks to children
  • support a person disclosing child harm
  • create culturally safe environments in the organisation.
• Training and guidance on child safety is:
  • appropriate to the organisation’s engagement with children and the needs of children in the organisation
  • trauma-informed
  • offered on a regular basis to enable staff and volunteers to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date
  • regularly reviewed and updated to remain effective.
• Supervision and management of staff and volunteers includes identifying child safety training needs.

Sample learning or training action plan

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standard

Child Safe Standard 9 requires organisations to identify and manage risks as a fundamental step in keeping children safe from harm. This means identifying the chance for child abuse and harm to occur in connection with your organisation and then finding ways to mitigate or manage those risks. Effectively managing risk can prevent and reduce child abuse and harm from occurring in your organisation.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 9 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

9.1 Staff and volunteers identify and mitigate risks in the online and physical environments without compromising a child’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities.

9.2 The online environment is used in accordance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and practices.

9.3 Risk management plans consider risks posed by organisational setting, activities and the physical environment.

9.4 Organisations that contract facilities and services from third parties have procurement policies that ensure the safety of children and young people.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• A risk assessment identifies risks of child abuse and harm in both physical and online environments connected with the organisation.
• Risk management plans list the actions the organisation will take to prevent or reduce each identified risk of child abuse and harm.
• The Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy identifies how the organisation will keep children safe in physical and online environments, with specific reference to higher-risk activities.
• Procurement policies about engaging third-party contractors set out processes to protect children from risks of child abuse and harm, such as requiring compliance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

Actions

• Risk assessment and management plans are informed by and responsive to the views and concerns of staff, volunteers and children. Plans show that the organisation has balanced the need to manage the risk of harm and abuse against children’s rights to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities.
• Staff and volunteers are provided with risk management plans so they are aware of risks of child abuse and harm and know what action they need to take to prevent and reduce them.
• Action is taken by staff and volunteers in the organisation to prevent and reduce risks of child abuse and harm when identified.
• Risk assessments and management plans are regularly reviewed to keep them up-to-date and include lessons from complaints, concerns and safety incidents.
• The organisation’s leadership and governance arrangements ensure risk assessment and management are focused on identifying, preventing and reducing risks of child abuse and harm.
• When negotiating contracts with third parties, contracts include terms that allow the organisation to take action if the third party does not meet expected child safety and wellbeing standards.
• When third-party contractors are engaged, action is taken by the organisation to assess whether, and the extent to which, the engagement of third-party contractors poses risks of child abuse and harm.
• Depending on the level of risk posed by third-party contractors, the organisation should take actions to prevent or reduce risks of child abuse or harm. Appropriate actions may include:
  • requiring third-party contractors to comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures
  • monitoring compliance by third-party contractors with the Child Safe Standards and/or the organisation’s policies and procedures
  • working with third-party contractors to identify, prevent and reduce risks of child abuse and harm
  • where an organisation is unable to adequately manage risks of child abuse and harm posed by third-party contractors, consider terminating the contract or take other appropriate action to protect children.
• If appropriate, staff, volunteers, parents, carers and children are provided with information about online safety and risks in the online environment, such as online grooming, cyber bullying and sexting. Support is given to reporting negative experiences or concerns.

Risk assessment and management templates

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 10 requires organisations to review policies, procedures and practices to make sure they are up-to-date, effective, fully implemented and followed by everyone. This means your organisation maintains the best approach to child safety and wellbeing and minimises the risk of child abuse and harm.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 10 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

10.1 The organisation regularly reviews, evaluates and improves child safe practices.

10.2  Complaints, concerns and safety incidents are analysed to identify causes and systemic failures to inform continuous improvement.

10.3 The organisation reports on the findings of relevant reviews to staff and volunteers, community and families, and children and young people.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• All policies and procedures have a regular review period indicated in the document.
• Reports document any child safety and wellbeing reviews and findings.

Actions

• Records are kept of complaints, concerns, allegations and actions taken to respond.
• Complaints, concerns, safety incidents or significant breaches of policy (such as the Code of Conduct) are examined to understand what caused the problem and whether there are any flaws in the organisation’s policies, procedures and practices that contributed to the problem. Where flaws or failings are identified, improvements are made to prevent the problem from happening again.
• The organisation regularly reviews policies, procedures and child safe practices, and makes improvements considering:
  • analysis of complaints, concerns, safety incidents and significant breaches of policy
  • feedback sought from staff, volunteers, children, families and communities
  • whether the organisation has fully implemented each of the Child Safe Standards.
• Reports about the findings and actions taken in response to reviews of the organisation’s child safe practices are shared with staff, volunteers, children, families and communities.

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 11 requires that you have your child safety policies and procedures documented. This means that your organisation has clear guidance so that leaders, staff, volunteers, children and their families understand how things are done, what they can expect and what they are expected to do.

There are minimum requirements to help your organisation know what they need to do to meet the Child Safe Standards.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 11 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

11.1 Policies and procedures address all Child Safe Standards.

11.2 Policies and procedures are documented and easy to understand.

11.3 Best practice models and stakeholder consultation informs the development of policies and procedures.

11.4 Leaders champion and model compliance with policies and procedures.

11.5 Staff and volunteers understand and implement policies and procedures.

Organisations will generally comply if they produce these documents and undertake these actions in a way that supports the organisation to achieve the Standard. These are called compliance indicators.

The nature or characteristics of your organisation may mean you need to do something different to what is proposed below. Read our guidance materials for more information.

Documents

• A Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy sets out the organisation’s expectations, practices and approach in relation to each of the Child Safe Standards.
• A Code of Conduct sets out the expectations for behaviour and responsibilities of staff and volunteers.
• Risk assessment and management plans address risks of child abuse and harm.
• The complaint handling policy and processes address how the organisation will respond and all internal and external reporting obligations.
• Organisational recruitment, human resources and volunteering policies have a clear child safety focus.
• If your organisation contracts facilities and/or services from third parties, procurement policies ensure the safety of children.

Actions

• Regular consultation on child safety with everyone involved in your organisation is undertaken.
• The organisation uses input from consultations and available information about creating child safety and wellbeing to help develop, review and update policies and procedures related to child safety.
• The organisation’s policies and procedures cover all the Child Safe Standards and address the risks to the safety of children that are specific to the organisation and its environment.
• Policies and procedures are easy to understand and can be accessed easily.

Creating a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation

Short guide to the Child Safe Standards