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Victorian Child Safe Standards Program

Thousands of organisations in Victoria need to comply with the new Child Safe Standards, but many don’t know where to start.

The Child Safe Standards are a new set of minimum requirements that outline the actions organisations must take to keep children and young people safe. They provide more clarity for organisations and are more consistent with Standards in the rest of Australia.

Safeguarding You’s Victorian Child Safe Standards Program (VCSS) allows businesses and non-profits, particularly those in sports, arts, recreation, disability, education and child care environments to measure themselves against this new standard, remediate weaknesses and report to relevant stakeholders.

How it Works

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ALL PROGRAMS include access to a digital library of amazing tools & resources

This Program Includes

12 Components

FREE Smart Self Assessment

FREE Risk Report: High-Med-Low

Action Management Module

Digital Library of Resources

24/7 Access: Mobile & TV

Optional: Program Review & Certificate of Assessment

Program Modules

1. Cultural Safety

Creating an environment where children of all backgrounds, especially Aboriginal children, feel safe, respected, and valued. It's about being aware of and responsive to the diverse cultural needs and backgrounds of children to ensure they are not discriminated against or disadvantaged. Implement practices and policies that promote understanding and respect for different cultures, and ensure staff are trained to be culturally sensitive.

2. Child Safety & Wellbeing

Ensuring the environments where children are present are secure, supportive, and nurturing. This involves putting in place policies and procedures to protect children from harm, abuse, and neglect. It also includes training staff to recognise and respond to child safety concerns and creating a culture where children's safety is a top priority. The goal is to provide a setting where children are not only safe from physical and emotional harm but also encouraged to thrive and develop positively.

3. Empowering Young People

Giving children and teenagers a voice and involving them in decisions that affect them. This includes listening to their ideas and opinions, respecting their views, and encouraging them to speak up about their needs and concerns. It's about creating an environment where young people feel valued, heard, and able to contribute. This approach helps build their confidence and self-esteem, and ensures that the services or activities provided are more effectively tailored to their needs.

4. Keeping Informed

Staying up-to-date with the latest information, laws, and practices about child safety and wellbeing. This involves regularly training staff on child safety issues, understanding changes in legislation, and being aware of the best ways to protect and support children in their care. It's about ensuring that the business or organisation continuously improves its approach to child safety by learning from new research, community feedback, and expert advice.

5. Diversity & Inclusion

Creating an environment where all children, regardless of their background, are welcomed, respected, and valued. This involves understanding and embracing differences in culture, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender identity, and family background. It's about making sure that every child feels included and supported, with equal access to opportunities and participation.

6. Working With Children

Ensuring staff and volunteers who interact with children are properly checked and trained to provide a safe and supportive environment. This includes conducting background checks, such as Working with Children Checks, to ensure they are suitable to work with children. It also involves providing regular training on child safety and wellbeing, understanding how to identify and respond to potential risks, and creating a culture where children's safety is the top priority.

7. Complaints & Concerns

Having clear, accessible ways for children, staff, parents, and others to report any worries or complaints about child safety. This includes making sure everyone knows how and where to raise concerns, and ensuring these are taken seriously and responded to promptly and appropriately. It's about creating an environment where people feel safe and supported to speak up if they think a child's safety might be at risk.

8. Education & Training

Providing regular and comprehensive training to staff and volunteers on how to ensure child safety and wellbeing. This training covers understanding child abuse risks, recognising signs of harm, and knowing how to respond and report concerns appropriately. It's about equipping everyone in the organisation with the knowledge and skills they need to create a safe and supportive environment for children.

9. Physical & Online Environments

Ensuring both the physical spaces and the digital platforms used are safe and appropriate for children. This involves creating secure, welcoming, and age-appropriate environments where children can learn, play, and interact without exposure to harm or abuse. In physical spaces, it includes measures like secure premises and safe equipment. Online, it means protecting children from cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators.

10. Implementation

Putting into action the policies and procedures you have developed to protect children. This involves not just having rules on paper but actively applying them in day-to-day operations. It includes training staff, monitoring activities, and regularly reviewing how well the child safety measures are working. Implementation is about making child safety a practical and integral part of the business, ensuring that every aspect of interaction with children is guided by these standards.

11. Policies & Procedures

Having a set of clear guidelines and methods to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. These policies and procedures outline how to prevent and respond to potential harm or abuse of children. They include guidelines on how to conduct background checks, manage staff training, report incidents, and ensure a child-friendly environment. The aim is to have a structured approach that everyone in the organisation understands and follows, ensuring consistent and effective protection for children in their care.

12. Child Employment

The Act defines employment as work performed by a child under the age of 15: under a contract of service or services; or in a business, trade, or occupation for the benefit of the business or person involved in the business, trade or occupation, or in a non-for-profit organisation, for the benefit of the organisation, or a person involved in the not-for-profit organisation and is under direction about how the work is to be performed. This is for work that is both paid and unpaid.

Victorian Child Safe Standards Survival Guide

Tailored for Victorian organisations, this guide cuts through the noise to deliver actionable strategies in Child Safeguarding.
More than just advice – it’s a blueprint for success. Avoid pitfalls, make smart decisions, and drive your organisation towards safer standards and sustainable growth. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to turn information into power.

Don't Make a Fatal Mistake!

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We’ve done a lot right and made mistakes along the way, cause no one ever said #RegTech or startup risk management was easy.
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