Strengthening our commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing
The Senior Leadership Team is pleased to announce the release of the improved Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy Statement (Policy Statement).
Every child has the right to an environment that is safe supportive and free from harm. Ensuring their rights, voices and best interests are respected is at the forefront of everything we do.
The improved Policy Statement is the department’s cornerstone document for building and maintaining a child safe culture. It outlines the principles and processes we have in place to embed child safety across all areas of our work.
The Policy Statement demonstrates the department’s commitment to the
Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, and the
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. It gives guidance to all staff, contractors and service providers on how to integrate child safety and wellbeing into all elements of the department’s operations. It also includes our promise to keep children safe and protect them from harm.
To develop the policy statement, we undertook extensive consultation with:
- all staff
- key business areas directly engaging with or impacting children
- external stakeholders including the:
- National Children’s Commissioner
- Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office
- Australian Red Cross (ARC).
Annual Child Safety Statement
The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework outlines requirements that all Commonwealth departments must meet. The Annual Child Safety Statement details how the department has met those requirements.
