National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) give effect to recommendations of the Royal Commission relating to the child safe standards and provide guidance on key actions and performance measures in implementing the standards. They provide a nationally consistent approach to cultivating organisational cultures and practices that foster child safety and wellbeing across all sectors in Australia.

The National Principles were endorsed by members of the Council of Australian Governments, the Prime Minister and state and territory First Ministers, in February 2019.

The National Office is leading national coordination and implementation of the National Principles, working with, state and territory governments, and non-government sectors to make organisations across Australia safe for children.

All governments are responsible for implementing the National Principles and determining compliance arrangements in their respective jurisdictions. The National Office continues to work with all governments and the non-government sector to promote and support the implementation of the National Principles and a nationally consistent approach to child safe organisations.

Resources

The National Office is working with a number of organisations to coordinate the development of a range of national resources and practical tools to inform organisations, children and parents and carers about the National Principles and support implementation across all sectors. This includes developing resources in collaboration with state and territory governments.

The National Principles

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and a National Principles for Child Safe Organisations poster are available for download.

Child Safe Organisations Resources

The following resources have been developed by the Office of the National Children’s Commissioner and can be accessed on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Child Safe Organisations website:

• Introductory Self-Assessment Tool for Organisations
• Guide for Parents and Carers
• Example Code of Conduct
• Charter of Commitment
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy template
• Checklist for Online Safety (developed in partnership with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner)
• 11 free professional learning modules on the National Principles, including one introductory module which gives an overview of the development and content of the National Principles, and separate modules on each of the ten Principles.

Complaint Handling Guide

The Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the rights of children and young people, provides practical advice to organisations about how to develop, implement and maintain a complaint-handling system that prioritises child safety and promotes the rights of children and young people to have a voice in decisions that affect them.

Translated Resources

The National Principles, Guide for Parents and Carers and Introductory Self-Assessment Tool for Organisations are available in 10 additional languages.