Organisations that provide services to children, need to provide a child safe environment.
What is a child safe environment?
A child safe environment is created when an organisation has policies, procedures and practices that help protect children from harm. It also includes a culture where child safety and wellbeing are a priority.
Who must provide a child safe environment?
Under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, a wide range of organisations that provide services to children are required to provide child safe environments.
The term organisation includes sole traders, partnerships, businesses, and incorporated and unincorporated groups.
Expand the section below to check if child safe environment requirements apply to your organisation or service.
Organisations and services required to provide a child safe environment
Child safe environment requirements apply to many different organisations and service providers working with children, including:
- State authorities
- accommodation and residential services for children
- services or activities provided by religious organisations
- childcare or child-minding services
- child protection services
- services or activities provided by clubs and associations that involve children, including sporting, recreational, cultural and arts activities
- coaching or tuition services for children
- commercial services provided directly to children
- disability services for children
- education services for children
- health services for children
- justice and detention services for children
- transport services for children.
Organisations can help keep children safe by:
Creating a child safe culture
- helping children understand what to do if they feel unsafe or experience inappropriate behaviour
- helping staff and volunteers recognise signs that a child may be at risk of harm
- ensuring concerns are taken seriously and responded to appropriately
- supporting leaders to actively promote child safety and wellbeing.
Establishing clear policies and expectations
- developing child safe policies, procedures and practices
- providing a clear child-focussed code of conduct for employees, volunteers and members.
Develop child safe policies and procedures for your organisation
Supporting staff and volunteers
- ongoing supervision and mentoring
- supporting staff and volunteers to understand their reporting responsibilities
- ensuring people working with children complete child safety training.
Learn about child safe training and find a provider
Responding to concerns
- promoting safe and respectful behaviour
- taking action when concerns about abuse and harm are identified
- helping prevent harm before it occurs
- supporting children who may have experienced harm.
Supporting mandatory reporters
Organisations should have processes in place to help mandated reporters understand and meet their reporting obligations. This includes providing information, guidance and training on recognising indicators of harm and making reports when concerns arise.
Meeting organisational requirements
- meeting Working with Children Check (WWCC) requirements
- having child safe policies and procedures in place
- submitting Child Safe Compliance (CSC) Statements when required.
Understand Child Safe Compliance Statement requirements
Maintaining a child safe organisation
Creating and maintaining a child safe environment requires an ongoing commitment to child safety.
Organisations should regularly review their policies, procedures and practices, support staff and volunteers with training, and meet any child safe environment legal requirements that apply to them.
Child Safe Environment Program
The DHS Child Safe Environments Program helps organisations meet child safety requirements and build a culture where children feel safe, valued and heard.