Child safe standards strengthen child protection

​​​​​​​Keeping children safe is the number one priority of early childhood professionals, and the Queensland Government is taking action to further strengthen child protection in services.

Queensland is implementing child safe standards, which were developed in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s recommendations.

Under the preferred model, a single independent oversight body would help organisations—including early childhood education and care providers—implement 10 new child safe standards and handle child abuse complaints and allegations as part of a reportable conduct scheme.

It is vital that everyone working in early childhood has their say on the policy options and their potential impacts.

You can do this by giving your feedback on the Growing Child Safe Organisations in Queensland Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS).

For more information including supplementary materials to help you navigate the CRIS and how to make a submission, visit the Growing child safe organisations webpage.

Embedding child safe standards

While Queensland is developing its approach to implementing the child safe standards, services are encouraged to review the National principles for child safe organisations​ (PDF, 1MB) which align with the 10 child safe standards recommended in the Royal Commission’s final report, Making institutions child safe (PDF, 2.3MB) (pages 12–13) and start to embed them in their service if they haven’t already.

Some Australian states and territories have already implemented child safe standards and developed the following resources, which you may find useful:

• Victoria's 11 child safe standards (PDF, 868KB)
  
• The child safe standards – early childhood services (Victorian Government)
• Resources and support for the child safe standards (Commission for Children and Young People Victoria)
• Child safe standards, key messages for the early childhood sector (PDF, 94KB)​ (New South Wales Department of Education)
  

As a start, services may review their current practices and ask reflective questions such as:

• ​Are our recruitment processes sufficiently thorough? Do we prioritise verbal reference checks? Do we ask questions when a candidate has a history of frequent job changes? Do we ask referees about interactions with children?
• How does the physical environment support adequate supervision? Are there blind spots and how could we prevent them?
• How do we ensure appropriate risk management and protection for both children and staff when staff are alone with children?​​
  
• Are staff aware of grooming techniques—​of children, but also staff and parents?
• Are we aware of the changes coming to the National Law and Regulation from 1 October that will further embed the child safe standards (PDF, 479KB) in the NQF? What are we doing now to prepare?​
  

Talking with familie​s

Talking with families about how your service is keeping their children safe is important. You may find the following resources useful:

• personal safety guide for parents and carers
  
• child protection brochures for families and carers
  
• child protection requirements​ for Queensland early childhood education and care services.
  

Support s​ervices

Child protection related issues are confronting for many people. If you need support: 

• Lifeline is a 24/7 telephone counselling and referral service across a range of support areas. Phone 13 11 14​.
  
• Blue Knot supports adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse, parents, partners, family and friends. Phone 1300 657 380.
  
• Kids Helpline offers telephone and online counselling service for children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years. Phone 1800 551 800.
  
• WellMob​ provides a safe online place made by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, bringing together wellbeing resources that are culturally relevant.