2022, Term 2, Edition 6 - Psychologist

New Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards were first introduced in Victoria in January 2016 and they are now being updated to make them even more effective in protecting children and young people.

The 11 new Standards require organisations involving children to have policies, procedures and practices to keep children safe. Schools must comply with the new Standards by 1 July 2022.

While similar to the current Child Safe Standards, the key changes include:

Involving families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
A greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
Managing the risk of child abuse in online environments
Greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes required to keep children and young people safe.

The changes have been made to support greater national consistency and to reflect the National Principles for a Child Safe Organisation. These were developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The focus on cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people was recommended by Justin Mohamed, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

“Creating organisations that properly include Aboriginal children, young people and their families, and that acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture, can make such a difference. Organisations will have requirements to ensure racism within the organisation is identified, confronted, and not tolerated. We know that if Aboriginal children and young people feel safe to be themselves in an organisation, this better protects them from child abuse,” reflected Justin Mohamed.

The new Standards provide greater clarity for organisations on the actions required to meet minimum standards. Victoria has over five years’ experience in mandatory Child Safe Standards, so many organisations will already have well-developed child safety frameworks.

Organisations will need to familiarise themselves with the new Standards, identify what changes they need to make, and comply by 1 July 2022.

More details on the new Child Safe Standards can be found at the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP). https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/news/new-child-safe-standards-start-in-victoria-on-1-july-2022-to-better-protect-children/

Alan Clarke
Paediatric Psychologist

New Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards were first introduced in Victoria in January 2016 and they are now being updated to make them even more effective in protecting children and young people.

The 11 new Standards require organisations involving children to have policies, procedures and practices to keep children safe. Schools must comply with the new Standards by 1 July 2022.

While similar to the current Child Safe Standards, the key changes include:

Involving families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe

A greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people

Managing the risk of child abuse in online environments

Greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes required to keep children and young people safe.

The focus on cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people was recommended by Justin Mohamed, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

Organisations will need to familiarise themselves with the new Standards, identify what changes they need to make, and comply by 1 July 2022.

Alan Clarke
Paediatric Psychologist