The NSW Child Safe Standards

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended 10 Child Safe Standards, drawing on its findings, research and consultation about what makes organisations child safe.

The Child Safe Standards provide a benchmark against which organisations can assess their child safe capacity and set performance targets. 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 10 Child Safe Standards are:

1. Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
2. Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account.
5. People working with children are suitable and supported.
6. Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused.
7. Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training.
8. Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur.
9. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.

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.

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) embed the Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission. From 1 October 2023, changes were introduced to the National Quality Framework (NQF) Review to bring closer alignment between the National Principles and NQF. These changes included new requirements for information contained in service’s child safe environment and complaint handling policies and procedures, awareness of child protection law, and information to be included in staff records.

Further information on these changes can be found on ACECQA's website.

Child Safe Standards compliance measures

Compliance and enforcement measures relating to the Child Safe Standards under the Children’s Guardian Act commenced from 1 February 2023.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) and outside school hours care (OSHC) services are among the organisations required under the Child Safe Scheme to implement the Child Safe Standards.

Services must ensure their practices align with the requirements of the Child Safe Standards and use the Standards through their systems, policies and processes to continually improve their child safe capabilities.

For training and resources on the Child Safe Standards, and to request training sessions, please visit the  Office of the Children’s Guardian website.

Guide to the Child Safe Standards

The NSW Department of Education has developed a resource to support services with implementing the Child Safe Standards.

The resource includes practical strategies and tips, questions to prompt critical reflection and case studies for consideration in your own individual service context.

The resource was developed in consultation with the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian and stakeholders from the ECEC and OSHC sector.