The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse looked at many examples of unsafe practices in organisations that led to children being sexually abused and made recommendations on what organisations should do now to keep children and young people safe from harm.
Organisations that engage with children and young people have a responsibility to respect them and protect them from harm, including from abuse and neglect by people within the organisation and in the course of its activities.
Identifying child safe organisations
Parents, carers and family members have a vital part to play in keeping children and young people safe when they are participating in services and programs delivered by organisations in the community.
Children and young people are safer when their parents, carers and others take an active interest in an organisation’s child safe practices. Organisations that demonstrate an active commitment to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) talk openly about creating child safe environments and have practical measures in place to achieve, review and improve on this.
The National Principles highlight the need for children and young people, parents, carers and families to understand the rights of children and be involved in decision-making. They also highlight the role of an organisation to recognise and promote equity and demonstrate respect for children and young people’s diverse circumstances – for example, disability, sex, gender, social, economic or cultural background.
Resources
There are many resources available to help you identify whether an organisation is child safe. There is also information and resources available for children and young people to refer to.
- Guide for parents and carers – Australian Human Rights Commission – how to choose safe and suitable organisations for your child.
- Parent checklist – Commissioner for Children and Young People – how to decide whether an organisation is safe and suitable for your child.
- Understanding the National Principles (plain English) – Australian Human Rights Commission – understanding and talking about the National Principles with children and organisations.
- Cultural safety in organisations report – National Office for Child Safety – understanding cultural safety in child safe organisations.
- Keeping our Kids Safe video – SNAICC – understanding cultural safety in child safe organisations.
- Having conversations – National Office for Child Safety – a toolkit to help adults have preventative conversations about child sexual abuse with children and young people, other adults and organisations.
- Translated National Principles resources – National Office for Child Safety – information about the National Principles is available in a range of languages.
- Parent resources – WA Child Safety Services – support for parents to teach children skills and strategies to identify and respond to a range of unsafe situations.
How to make a complaint
You can lodge a complaint against organisations that engage children and young people.
If you are unhappy or worried about something happening in an organisation, you have the right to tell someone and be listened to.
When organisations have clear information and easy steps you can take to raise concerns and make complaints, it is a sign that they take the safety of children and young people seriously. You should be able to find this information on an organisation’s website, in places where they run activities and from staff and volunteers.
Concerned about a child or young person
See where to go for help if you’re worried a child or young person is unsafe.
