Information and resources for child safe organisations

General

• Child safe organisations  – Australian Human Rights Commission
• National Office for Child Safety
• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
• Hear no evil, see no evil: Understanding failure to identify and report child sexual abuse in institutional contexts
• eSafety Commissioner
• The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031
• National Quality Framework (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)
• NQF Child Safety Guides
• National Standards for out-of-home care
• NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework

State, territory and federal child safe requirements

Australian Capital Territory

• Child Safe Standards Scheme
• Working With Vulnerable People Checks
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

New South Wales

• Child Safe Scheme
• Working With Children Check
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

Northern Territory

• Working with children clearance

Queensland

• Child Safe Standards
• Blue Card Services
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

South Australia

• Child Safe Environments Program
• Working With Children Check

Tasmania

• Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework
• Registration to Work With Vulnerable People
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

Victoria

• Child Safe Standards
• Working With Children Check
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

Western Australia

• Working With Children Check
• Reportable Conduct

Federal

• Child Safe Framework

Children’s rights

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Children’s version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Children’s rights – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Australian Centre for Child Rights

Other major human rights treaties

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect

• Reporting child abuse and neglect – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect – Australian Institute of Family Studies
  

Responding to children’s disclosures of abuse

• Responding to children and young people’s disclosures of abuse – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• How to respond to a child sexual abuse disclosure – National Office for Child Safety

Recruitment and staffing

• Pre-employment and volunteer screening checks – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Child Safe Recruitment and the Working with Children Check handbook – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• Practical guide to choosing, supervising and developing suitable staff and volunteers – Commission for Children and Young People Victoria

Indicators of child harm  

• What is child abuse and neglect? – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Identify signs of child abuse – Victorian Government
• Signs and indicators of child sexual abuse – National Office for Child Safety
• Australian Child Maltreatment Study

Grooming

• Grooming – National Office for Child Safety
• About grooming - Information for child-related organisations (video) – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian

Children with harmful sexual behaviours

• Sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people that can be harmful practice tool – National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse
• How to support children and young people who display, or are victims of harmful sexual behaviours practice tool – National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

Creating a child safety and wellbeing policy and code of conduct

• Introductory self-assessment tool, Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy template and example Code of Conduct – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Understanding and Developing a Child Safe Code of Conduct handbook– NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• Understanding and Developing a Child Safe Policy handbook – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• Creating a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy – Commission for Children and Young People Victoria

Participation of children and young people

• Children’s right to be heard – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Charter of Commitment to Children and Young People – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Engaging children and young people in your organisation – NSW Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People
• Empowerment and participation: a guide for organisations working with children and young people – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• How to increase participation – Commissioner for Children and Young People Tasmania

Talking to children and young people about safety

• Protection through participation – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Tips for talking to children about personal safety – NAPCAN
• Teaching Children Personal Safety – Bravehearts
• Resources to teach body safety – National Office for Child Safety
• Protective Participation: The Voices of Young People on Safety – Safeguarding Children, Australian Catholic University
• Respectful relationships education – OurWatch
• Love Bites Respectful Relationships Program – NAPCAN

Involving parents, families and communities

• Guide for parents and carers – Australian Human Rights Commission
  
• Having conversations with organisations – National Office for Child Safety
• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations WA: Information for parents, carers and family members – Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia
• Key organisations for working with culturally and linguistically diverse families – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation – Commission for Children and Young People Victoria
• Child Safe Standard 3 - Families and communities are informed and involved (video) – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• Resources in community languages – National Office for Child Safety
• How to help families keep children safe online – eSafety Commissioner
• The importance of inclusive services for LGBTQ+ parents and carers – Emerging Minds
• Rainbow Families Resources
• Collaborative partnerships with families and communities – Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority

Respecting diversity of children and young people

Anti-racism

• There's Nothing Casual About Racism – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Understanding racism – Australian Human Rights Commission
• National Anti-Racism Framework – Australian Human Rights Commission
• ‘Everywhere I go no matter where, if it’s around non-Indigenous people I feel a hate vibe. It feels like I’m being watched’– The Call It Out Racism Register 2024-2025
  
• Understanding the colonial load and what it means in early education – Community Early Learning Australia
  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people

• Keeping Our Kids Safe: Cultural Safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations guide – SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
• Understanding cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people – Commissioner for Children and Young People Victoria
• Resources – SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
• Stolen Generations Resources Kit for Teachers and Students – The Healing Foundation
• The Narragunnawali program – Reconciliation Australia

Children from culturally and linguistically diverse communities

• Allies and Friends Early Childhood Education Toolkit – ABC Kids
• Building belonging: A toolkit for early childhood educators – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – Commissioner for Children and Young people Victoria
• Key organisations for working with culturally and linguistically diverse families – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Inclusive Organisations Good Practice Guide – Centre for Multicultural Youth

LGBTIQA+ children and young people

• LGBTIQA+ glossary of common terms – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Supporting LGBTQIA+ young people – ReachOut
• Schools and Educators Resources – Transcend Australia
• LGBTI children and young people – Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia
• Listening to LGBTQIA+ Young People – Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia
• Guidelines - Including transgender and gender diverse people in sport – Australian Human Rights Commission

Children and young people with disability

• Child safe organisations: implementing the National Principles for children and young people with disability – National Office for Child Safety
• Safety of children with a disability – Commissioner for Children and Young People Victoria
• Resources on child safety and prevention of abuse – Children and Young People with Disability Australia
• Understanding safeguarding practices for children with disability when engaging with organisations – Australian Institute of Family Studies
• Language Guide – People with Disability Australia

Child-focused complaints processes

• Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the rights of children and young people – National Office for Child Safety
• Speak up and make a complaint – National Office for Child Safety

Risk management strategies

• Child Safety Risk Management Resources – National Office for Child Safety
• Risk Management – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
• Risk assessment and management templates – Commission for Children and Young people Victoria

Online safety

• Checklist for online safety – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Reflection and planning tool – eSafety Commissioner
• Keeping children safe online in communities – eSafety Commissioner
• The eSafety Guide – eSafety Commissioner
• Privacy and your child – eSafety Commissioner
• Social media age restrictions – eSafety Commissioner
• eSafety Education – eSafety Commissioner
• eSafety First Nations – eSafety Commissioner
• Community education and training – eSafety Commissioner
• Trusted eSafety Provider program – eSafety Commissioner