Child Safe Standards

What do the new laws mean?

CAPS is thrilled that the NSW Government has now mandated the Child Safe Standards. The new laws represent a big leap forward in how child-related organisations are responsible for creating safer and more supportive environments for our kids.

The new laws mean that child-related organisations in NSW must implement the Child Safe Standards. This includes organisations in the following sectors:

Early Childhood
Education
Health
Youth Justice
Religious organisations
Sport and recreation
Local government
Out-of-home care

How can we implement the Child Safe Standards?

To implement the standards, child-related organisations must develop and enact a suite of child protection measures including:

A statement of the organisation’s commitment to child safety
A child safe policy
A code of conduct
A complaint management policy
A human resources policy
A risk management plan

The standards also incorporate the existing NSW child safety framework, including the Reportable Conduct Scheme, Working With Children Check and other reporting obligations to the Police and the Department of Communities and Justice.

Child-related organisations must ensure that these systems, policies and processes are continuously reviewed and updated.

When do the standards need to be implemented by?

It is anticipated that child-related organisations will have two years to implement the standards. We at CAPS encourage all organisations to implement the standards as soon as possible to drive cultural change today.

By doing so now, your organisation will send a clear message to the community that it is committed to embedding the preventative measures needed to keep kids safe – well before any legal need to do so.

How can CAPS help?

Child Safe Leaders Program

Drawing from almost 50 years’ experience delivering child protection programs, our Child Safe Leaders program is designed to make it as easy as possible to implement the Child Safe Standards at your workplace.

This can include:

A thorough child protection review of your organisation’s policies and processes
Delivery of a bespoke CAPS Health Check Report that states how well your organisation reflects each of the ten Child Safe Standards
The development of a child protection solution based on your organisation’s unique needs (such as a new Child Safe Policy, Code of Conduct, staff training workshops and more).

Our Approach:

Strengths-based: we build on whatever previous child protection work your organisation has already undertaken and empower staff at all levels to become Child Safe Leaders.

Place-based: we utilise your organisational structure to drive change from within. Any new policies and processes created by CAPS are owned by your organisation and will complement the existing staff and culture.

Flexible: We provide only the services that are relevant to your organisation’s unique needs and goals.

Accountable: All of work is underpinned by our years of experiencing delivering evidence-based, award-winning child protection programs.

Interested in Child Safe Leaders?

Testimonials

"Prior to the audit, thinking about addressing the National Principles as an organisation had felt quite overwhelming. With CAPS support, we have some direction to progress with that feels both achievable and encouraging. I would recommend the process to any service who was looking to improve their focus on child safety."

“A really positive, empowering process for everyone. It’s been a real eye-opener, just how empowering it can be to promote child protection.”

"I feel more empowered to recognise indicators of abuse and how to respond."

"CAPS guided us through the standards and supported Tresillian through each principle, key action areas and indicators. Tresillian have proudly accomplished Child Safe Leader Certification and will importantly continue the Tresillian and CAPS “child safe partnership” into the future."

"The presentation was perfect. It was detailed and well explained why we need to praise, encourage and not blame children when they are able to talk about what happened to them."