The NSW Child Safe Standards
Last week I had the privilege of introducing the NSW Child Safe Standards to our teaching staff. The Child Safe StandardsExternal link provide a benchmark against which organisations can assess their child safe capacity and set performance targets and the Lismore Catholic Schools Office is working with each school in the diocese to embed these standards from the start of the 2024 school year.
The 10 Child Safe Standards are:
- Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
- Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
- Families and communities are informed and involved
- Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
- People working with children are suitable and supported
- Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused
- Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training
- Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur
- Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
- Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.
The Standards provide tangible guidance for organisations to drive a child safe culture, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm.
The Office of the Children’s Guardian is an independent statutory body that promotes the interests, safety and rights of children and young people in NSW. The core functions of the Office of the Children’s Guardian include administering Working With Children Checks, Reportable Conduct Scheme and implementation of the Child Safe Standards.
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
