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Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme

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New Child Safe Standards come into force from 1 July 2022 to better protect children and young people from abuse. The Standards exist to prevent harm and abuse from happening in organisations. The Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme create distinct sets of responsibilities for CommunityOSH, but have been designed to complement one another. Together, they strengthen the capacity of CommunityOSH to prevent and respond properly to allegations of child abuse.

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Key changes included in the new requirements are:

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

• for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people

• to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments

• for greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe

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CommunityOSH does not tolerate any form of child abuse or neglect. We advocate for  the rights of children to ensure they feel and are always safe when attending our OSHC Programs. This includes children from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, in out-of-home care, with a disability or illness or in the LGBTQIA+ community.

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Standard 1: Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

      

 

Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in CommunityOSH leadership, governance and culture. 

 

 

Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously. 

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Standard 4: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

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Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

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Standard 6: Educators working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

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Standard 7: Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

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Standard 8: Educators and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

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Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

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Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

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Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

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