Since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, significant legislative reforms have been introduced to strengthen child safety across Australia. The Education and Care Services National Law and the Regulations establish the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standard that together make up the ‘applied law system’ which sets a national standard for children’s education and care across Australia. In Victoria, the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) (Act), Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme apply in addition to the applied law system to provide an essential framework to ensure comprehensive and applicable regulations to ensure the safety of children and compliance standards in Victoria.
Failure to meet the minimum requirements under the child safety laws may expose organisations to significant legal and reputational risk, including civil penalties. More importantly, non-compliance compromises the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in the organisation’s care.
A key component of compliance is ensuring that leaders, managers, people and culture, and other staff and volunteers understand and uphold their obligations under child safety laws.
HR Legal can deliver bespoke training to support organisations to meet Victorian Child Safe obligations, consistent with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005, Child Safe Standards and the Commission for Children and Young People’s guidelines.
Available Training Courses
- Briefings to Executive Management and Boards on the Child Safe obligations, including setting the organisation’s strategy, and managing legal and other risks.
- Manager training directed at equipping leaders to understand their obligations, how to monitor compliance and how to respond to concerns.
- Training to the HR team or Child Safe Officers to understand the legal framework, how to ensure the organisation is meeting the Child Safe Standards and how to approach investigations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme (if applicable).
- Whole of workforce training to educate staff on child safety.
Such training offerings will be tailored to the organisation’s size and demographics, taking into account relevant policies.
In addition, HR Legal has developed a number of Victorian Child Safe service offerings including:
- Policies and procedures consistent with the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme;
- Additional ‘tool box talk’ scripts to support leaders to continue to reinforce expectations at regular intervals; and
- Conducting Child Safe investigations.
Contact HR Legal today to discuss how your organisation can best meet the Victorian Child Safe obligations.
Testimonials on our Child Safety Education
