Becoming a child safe organisation

A child safe organisation puts children’s safety, wellbeing and rights at the centre of its decisions and everyday activities.

It builds a culture where children are listened to, concerns are taken seriously, and adults understand their responsibility to prevent and respond to harm. This includes safe recruitment, clear boundaries, accessible complaints processes, and safeguards for physical and online environments.

Being child safe is an ongoing commitment. Policies matter, but they must be understood, used and regularly reviewed.

Start with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and check the requirements that apply to your organisation, sector and location.

Practical first steps include:

• Assigning clear responsibility for child safety to your leadership team and governing body.

• Reviewing your activities to identify where children could experience harm, including online.

• Listening to children, young people and families about what helps them feel safe.

• Reviewing recruitment, screening, supervision and staff conduct.

• Making sure everyone knows how to recognise, record and report concerns.

• Creating an improvement plan with named responsibilities and deadlines.

Include cultural safety, accessibility and the needs of children who may face additional barriers to being heard.

The National Office for Child Safety provides a child safety and wellbeing policy template, along with resources to help organisations identify and manage risks. The Australian Human Rights Commission also provides practical tools to support the National Principles.

Your state or territory’s child safety authority and relevant sector regulator may provide additional templates and guidance.

Use templates as a starting point. Adapt them to your organisation’s activities, responsibilities, risks and legal requirements. Involve staff, volunteers, children and families where appropriate, and make sure your policies explain what people need to do in practice.

https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/resources-for-organisations-businesses/child-safe-organisations

https://www.childsafety.gov.au/what-we-do/child-safe-organisations/national-principles-child-safe-organisations

Requirements depend on where your organisation operates, the services it provides and the roles people perform.

You may need to meet requirements relating to Child Safe Standards, Working with Children Checks or equivalent screening, mandatory reporting, reportable conduct, and sector-specific regulation.

The National Principles provide a shared national framework, but they do not replace applicable laws or regulatory requirements. Organisations operating across jurisdictions should check their obligations in each location.

Check current advice from your state or territory child safety authority, screening body and sector regulator. Make sure your procedures identify who must report concerns, to whom and within what timeframe. Reporting internally does not replace any obligation to report externally.

Child safety learning should begin at induction and continue through refresher training, supervision and practical discussion.

Staff and volunteers should understand:

• Children’s rights, cultural safety and inclusive practice.

• Appropriate behaviour, professional boundaries and online safety.

• How to recognise abuse, grooming and concerning behaviour.

• How to respond calmly and supportively when a child raises a concern.

• How to record and report concerns promptly.

Choose training relevant to your organisation’s activities and jurisdiction. Use realistic scenarios to check understanding, and make sure everyone knows where to find your policies and who to approach for help.

Training supports safer practice, alongside effective leadership, supervision and accountability.

Child safety learning should begin at induction and continue through refresher training, supervision and practical discussion.

Staff and volunteers should understand:

• Children’s rights, cultural safety and inclusive practice.

• Appropriate behaviour, professional boundaries and online safety.

• How to recognise abuse, grooming and concerning behaviour.

• How to respond calmly and supportively when a child raises a concern.

• How to record and report concerns promptly.

Choose training relevant to your organisation’s activities and jurisdiction. Use realistic scenarios to check understanding, and make sure everyone knows where to find your policies and who to approach for help.

Training supports safer practice, alongside effective leadership, supervision and accountability.

Survivor perspectives can help organisations understand how harm occurs, why concerns may go unheard, and how institutional responses can either support recovery or cause further harm.

These insights can strengthen policies, complaints processes, staff training and organisational accountability.

Involving Survivors should be voluntary, respectful and supported. Explain how their input will be used, offer choices about participation and privacy, and recognise their expertise through appropriate payment. No one should be expected to disclose personal experiences to contribute.

Survivor perspectives should sit alongside the voices of children, young people and families, professional safeguarding expertise and applicable legal requirements.