National Child Safe Principles

The National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 provides a nationally coordinated, strategic framework for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse. The National Strategy sets up nationally coordinated and consistent way to prevent and better respond to child sexual abuse in all settings. This includes:

• within families
• by other people the child or young person knows or does not know
• in organisations
• online.

The National Strategy will reduce risk, extent and impact of child sexual abuse and related harms in Australia.

The Commonwealth Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse handed down its final report on 15 December 2017 with 105 recommendations for State and Territory Governments. The ACT Government response, released in June 2018, agreed or agreed-in-principle with all recommendations.

Outlined in volume 6 of the Final Report, implementation of the National Child Safe Principles are the key recommendations of the Royal Commission. Following agreement by the Council of Australian Governments in 2019, all child service institutions are expected to fully implement the Child Safe Principles. This short video by National Children’s Commissioner  explains what Child Safe Principles are about.

For more information on the Royal Commission and its findings, see: Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse

What are the National Child Safe Principles?

Underpinned by a child-rights approach the Child Safe Principles are designed to build capacity, deliver child safety and wellbeing in organisations, families and communities and prevent future harm.

Informed by the findings of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Child Safe Principles) outline 10 fundamentals for making an organisation safe for children.

By successfully embedding the Child Safe Principles, organisations are considered to be child safe as they consciously and systematically:

• create an environment where children’s safety and wellbeing is at the centre of thought, values and actions
• place emphasis on genuine engagement with, and valuing of children
• create conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people creates conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying any harm
• respond to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions.

The 10 National Principles are:

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
5. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.
7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
9. Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

These National Principles are a set of characteristics that an institution would exhibit to improve their child safe culture while making opportunities for abuse ever more difficult.

The Royal Commission acknowledged that the risk of child sexual abuse can never be eliminated, and when children’s safety and best interests are placed at the core of institutional decision making and supported by a well-informed community, the risk is reduced, and greater outcomes occur for children.

Watch this video  by the National Children’s Commissioner to find out more about the development of the National Principles.

Child Safe Principles in the ACT

The ACT Government is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. In 2019, the ACT Government endorsed the Child Safe Principles and made a commitment to implementing the Child Safe Principles in all child-related organisations, which includes schools and early childhood services.

To support implementation of the Child Safe Principles, there will be a legal mandate on all child related organisation to demonstrate alignment with the Child Safe Principles.

How will the Child Safe Principles apply to schools?

The Child Safe Principles were designed to provide high level guidance to any institution or organisation across Australia in which children are involved – noting that institutions vary by size, nature and capacity.

Online resources are being developed to provide schools an easy access point for critical child safety information – including how to identify, prevent, respond to and report child sexual abuse. The information on this website is intended to support schools understand the Child Safe Principles and their obligations to keep students safe from harm.

Child Safe Schools Guide

A guide with support materials is available for principals and school staff to help their school implement the Child Safe Principles. Schools do significant work to ensure child safety already, so the aim is to integrate the 10 National Child Safe Principles within existing policies and strategies with particular focus areas for schools to action.

For further information please contact EDURoyalCommissions@act.gov.au

If you want to learn more about the National Child Safe Principles, please visit the Child Safe Organisations website , where you can find information, resources and tools on becoming a child safe organisation.

Child Safety

• Responding to student harmful sexual behaviour
• Information sharing toolkit
• Child safety map

Relevant Policies and Procedures:

• Child Protection and Reporting Abuse and Neglect Policy
• Code of conduct: Teachers, School Leaders and Principals (1 Mb)
• Code of conduct: School based staff (1.2 Mb)
• Reportable Conduct Scheme Policy

Further Guidance:

• Keeping Children and Young People Safe
• ACT Ombudsman Practice Guide Number 8 Information Sharing and Reportable Conduct
• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• National Office for Child Safety | National Office for Child Safety
• Keeping our Kids Safe: Cultural Safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• Keeping Our Kids Safe: Understanding Cultural Safety in Child Safe Organisations
• Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the rights of children and young people
• Speak up and make a complaint Poster
• Helping children and young people speak up and make a complaint Poster