An example of the resources available on the General Resources Webpage
An example of the resources available on the General Resources Webpage
Principle 1: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
1. Information & Quick Links
Principle 1 describes the key building blocks to establish and maintain a child safe organisations organisational structure and governance. There are various resources on this page which can be used to comply with this Principle. Many aspects of these will link with other parts of the National Principles and a child safe organisations policies and procedures.
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Principle 1.1 The organisation makes a public commitment to child safety.
1.1 Information & Quick Links
Many examples of Child Safe Commitment Statements can be accessed online, particularly in Victoria, given a version of the Child Safe Standards have been in effect for several years. These statements will commonly relate to religious-based organisations, disability and out-of-home care providers and to a lesser extent education and child care service providers, local councils and sporting organisations.
As the National Principles are regulated throughout Australia more organisations will be required to develop this. Remember this statement MUST reflect a child -related organisations operational context and be achievable. Included in our templates are several checklists/documents that will assist the development of a Commitment Statement.
Principle 1.2 A child safe culture is championed and modelled at all levels of the organisation from the top-down and the bottom up.
1.2 Information & Quick Links
The establishment, modelling and championing of a child safe culture is a fundamental aspect of being a child safe organisation which is expressed to the relevant community and demonstrated by your organisational objectives, governance and leadership. A Child Safety Policy should link with a Commitment Statement and show how these broad objectives are achieved.
When developing a Child Safe Policy consider your the, the purpose, content and if it duplicates existing Policies. Many organisations utilise one Policy which is also the Complaint Policy, Investigation Policy, Working with Children Policy and Mandatory Reporting Policy.
These are distinct areas of operation, and such an approach may confuse the reader or conflict with other organisational Policies. The template page contains various documents to review and settle an organisation’s approach.
Alternatively, there may also be reasons to have one document which addresses these key areas. If considering such an approach an organisation should consider carefully the design, usability and detail of this Policy.
Principle 1.3 Governance arrangements facilitate the implementation of the child safety and wellbeing policy at all levels.
1.3 Information & Quick Links
An appropriate governance structure is fundamental to a robust and sound child safe organisation as outlined by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
This contextual structure should allow key services to be provided whilst facilitating an appropriate level oversight and encouraging a positive workplace culture. Further the governance structures of a small volunteer organisation may differ to a small v large transport provider, amusement operator and child care service. Also factors such as organisational size, area of operation, management structure, relationship with stakeholders and profit motive may also inform governance processes.
Likewise legal obligations may be of influence such as the Education and Care Services National Law, which creates specific legal obligations for designated persons such as the approved provider, nominated supervisor and educator. This legislation utilises a chain of responsibility legal model to encourage compliance.
The examples above outline how some child safe organisations have approached this requirement and the templates page can also assist child safe organisation’s review and refine practices.
Central to a governance model is ensuring a key person/group of persons, with suitable experience, oversight the child safe related functions. This should take advantage of available collective skills to prevent, deter, respond, monitor and review compliance processes.
Smaller organisations may be affected by a lack of specific expertise in key areas which causes some roles to have responsibilities they do not understand and maintain limited focus.
These are all aspects to consider in developing and reviewing a child-safe organisational governance framework.
The key message from this section is that key child safe responsibilities should be placed with the right person who has control and influence or is supported by a person/position with child safety experience and a level of understanding of the National Principles. This may ensure, not only that required standards.
Principle 1.4 A Code of Conduct provides guidelines for staff and volunteers on expected behavioural standards and responsibilities.
1.4 Information & Quick Links
Many organisations publish their Code of Conduct or similar documents on their websites. Such documents can be useful to examine to consider the various ways these can be constructed, the type of language used, the layout and level of complexity. The resources above may also assist a child related organisation to consider the appropriateness of its’ Code of Conduct.
This document should be a cornerstone of the employer and employee relationship and clearly outline the workplace behaviours that are appropriate or not appropriate in an organisation.
It should also be recognised that the organisational type and industrial landscape may impact on the Code of Conducts nature and content.
Principle 1.5 Risk management strategies focus on preventing, identifying, and mitigating risks to children and young people.
1.5 Information & Quick Links
A key aspect of a child related organisations strategic and operational processes should be risk management. This should underpin the services provided, staffing recruitment and training and response to matters of concern.
There are many valuable resources being continually developed to enable the use of risk based approaches such as risk assessment templates, strategic risk registers and child related risk manuals.
It is also important to develop staff to be able to understand the principles of risk management and be able to embed this in organisational practices. For examples of such documentation refer to the templates section.
Principle 1.6 Staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and recordkeeping.
1.6 Information & Quick Links
In a Child Safe organisation information sharing and record keeping is critical to ensure compliance with legal obligations, protect individuals and families personal information and preserve the organisations reputation.
The area of Privacy Law is complex and multi-layered. There are, however, some underpinning questions a child safe organisation should understand regarding gathering, storage, disclosing and destroying information obtain in the course of its functions.
A common Privacy law risk arises from the actions of staff who may intentionally or inadvertently disclose information to third parties which may be considered to be a Privacy Breach.
Various resources are publicly accessible on the websites of the Australian Government Office of the Information Commissioner as well as State and Territory Privacy Commissioners. In New South Wales this is the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
A useful staring point is also Small business – Home (oaic.gov.au) where there is information to examine to determine if a business is required to comply with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.
Privacy Law is an area to not overlook and to provide staff and volunteers adequate training and have appropriate policies, procedures and oversight to manage this ongoing legal responsibility.