Compulsory child safe standards start January 1st 2016

The Victorian Government is introducing new compulsory child safe standards by legislation to help protect children from abuse. The compulsory minimum standards that will apply to organisations that provide services for children to help ensure the safety of children. The child safe standards form part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry.

Legislation to introduce the child safe standards is being considered by the Victorian Parliament. When the legislation passes Parliament, the child safe standards will start applying to organisations from 1 January 2016 in phases:

• Phase 1: Organisations that provide services for children that are government funded and/or regulated will be required to work towards compliance from 1 January 2016
• Phase 2: Other organisations that provide services for children will be required to comply from 1 January 2017.

The child safe standards will be compulsory for all organisations in scope, but not prescriptive. This will allow the diverse range of organisations in scope some flexibility in how they implement the child safe standards to meet requirements.

This Overview provides general guidance for the implementation of the child safe standards.

These standards are compulsory for all organisations providing services to children, and aim to drive cultural change in organisations so that protecting children from abuse is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of leaders, staff and volunteers.

Read more on the DHHS website