All children and young people have the right to be safe and feel safe no matter where they are.
It is the responsibility of adults and organisations to make sure that every child-related activity or environment is safe for children and young people. The Commissioner for Children and Young People takes this very seriously.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People is committed to establishing and maintaining child-friendly cultures, places and practices that foster child safety and wellbeing in our own office. The Commissioner also promotes the uptake of child safety practices across all sectors.
One way the Commissioner does this is by fulfilling the requirements of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 and encouraging other organisations to do so too.
The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act establishes ten child and youth safe standards and a universal principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety that organisations referred to in the legislation must follow. The Act also establishes a Reportable Conduct Scheme that requires organisations to report concerns about adult worker’s behaviour towards children and young people.
Visit the new Office of the Independent Regulator for more information about the Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme: Office of the Independent Regulator (oir.tas.gov.au)
For further information about the child and youth safe standards, see this video explainer: Child Safe Organisations – National Principles Video – YouTube
- Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
- Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
- People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
- Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child-focused.
- Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- Implementation of the child and youth safe standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
- Policies and procedures document how the entity is safe for children and young people.
The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework took effect 1 January 2024.
As part of the framework, a dedicated independent oversight body called the Independent Regulator regulates both the Child and Youth Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
You can visit the Independent Regulator’s webpage to find out what your organisation must do to comply with the Child and Youth Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme: Office of the Independent Regulator (oir.tas.gov.au)
Alongside compliance with the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework, Tasmanian Government agencies are putting in place their own new and stronger measures to safeguard and protect all children in their care or who come into contact with their workers.
To find out about their approaches and how to raise a concern visit:
The Independent Regilator has made available a wide range of resources to organisations, workers, parents and children to assist with understanding the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework: Resources | Office of the Independent Regulator (oir.tas.gov.au).
The National Children’s Commissioner has also developed practical tools and resources for organisations, parents and carers, children and young people, and people with diverse needs.
The National Principles are:
- Mirrored by the Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Standards.
- Underpinned by a child rights, strengths-based approach.
- Designed to allow for flexibility in implementation across all sectors engaging with children and young people, and in organisations of various sizes.
- Aligned with existing child safe approaches at the state and territory level.
Download the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
National child safe information, tools and resources are available on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
The University of Tasmania runs a short course, An Introduction to Children’s Rights and Safety, which is available at no cost to all members of the public.
The Australian Catholic University has also developed tools and resources for child safe and child-centred approaches:
• ACU Safeguarding Children and Young People Portal
• Tools and resources for how to support children through child-centred approaches (acu.edu.au)
Other websites with useful information and resources include:
• National Office for Child Safety
• Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria)
• Office of the Children’s Guardian (NSW)
• Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Keeping our kids safe – SNAICC