The Child Safe Standards set out requirements for creating and maintaining child safe organisations.
All Victorian schools must:
- comply with the standards
- take active steps to prevent child abuse
- promote child safety and wellbeing.
Ministerial Order 1359 provides the framework for child safety in schools.
This page provides guidance on how to apply each standard in a school setting. Select one to find practical advice, examples and resources.
For regulatory information, see Child Safe Standards for education providers.(opens in a new window)
Child Safe Standards guidance
Cultural safety
This guidance explains what schools must do to meet Child Safe Standard 1. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Leadership, governance and culture
Child Safe Standard 2 is about how school leaders, governance, and culture keep children safe. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard, with practical examples of actions you can take.
Empower children and students
Child Safe Standard 3 is about children knowing their rights, being taken seriously, and taking part in decisions that affect them. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet Child Safe Standard 3. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Family engagement
Child Safe Standard 4 is about working with families and communities to keep children safe from abuse and harm. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard, with practical examples of actions you can take.
Diversity and equity
Child Safe Standard 5 is about inclusion, fairness and respect for every child. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Suitable staff and volunteers
Child Safe Standard 6 is about making sure people working with children are suitable and supported. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Complaints processes
Child Safety Standard 7 is about having processes for complaints that are child-focused and easy for everyone to access. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Child safety education and training
Child Safe Standard 8 is about training staff and volunteers in how to keep children safe. This guidance explains what schools must do to meet the standard. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Activities, spaces, and services
This guidance explains what schools must do to meet Child Safe Standard 9, with practical examples.
Review child safety practices
This guidance explains what schools must do to meet this Child Safe Standard 10. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Policies and procedures
This guidance explains what schools must do to meet Child Safe Standard 11. It also gives practical examples of actions you can take.
Updated