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The Child Safe Standards - Early childhood services

Advice for implementing the Child Safe Standards in early childhood services.

The new standards started on 1 July 2022

Early childhood services must update their systems, practices and policies to comply with the new Standards.

Until 31 December 2022, the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) will continue to work with the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) to regulate the new Standards.

On 1 January 2023 QARD will become the sole regulator of the Standards in the early childhood sector.

Read about:

Child Safe Standards

Find information and guidance about each of the 11 Standards below.

Early childhood services - culturally safe environments for Aboriginal children

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 1: Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children are respected and valued.

Early childhood services - child safety and wellbeing

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 2: Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in service leadership, governance and culture.

Early childhood services - child and student empowerment

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 3: Children are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

Early childhood services - family engagement

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 4: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Early childhood services - diversity and equity

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

Early childhood services - suitable staff and volunteers

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 6: People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Early childhood services - complaints processes

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 7: Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

Early childhood services - child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

Early childhood services - child safety in physical and online environments

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children to be harmed.

Early childhood services - review of child safety practices

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 10: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

Early childhood services - implementation of child safety practices

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 11: Policies and procedures that document how services are safe for children.

Regulating the Child Safe Standards in early childhood services

How the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) regulates the Child Safe Standards

Monitoring compliance with the Child Safe Standards in early childhood services

How the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division will approach compliance and enforcement of the new Child Safe Standards in early childhood services from 1 January 2023.

Reviewed 05 July 2023

Child Safe Standards

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