Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle
Queensland organisations in a range of sectors that provide services specifically for children, or facilities specifically for use by children who are under the supervision of the organisation, must comply with 10 Child Safe Standards, and provide an environment that promotes and upholds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s right to cultural safety (referred to as the Universal Principle).
Child Safe Standards | |
|---|---|
Leadership and culture | Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in the entity’s organisational leadership, governance and culture. |
Voice of children | Children are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously. |
Family and community | Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing. |
Equity and diversity | Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice. |
People | People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. |
Complaints management | Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused. |
Knowledge and skills | Staff and volunteers of the entity are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training. |
Physical and online environments | Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing and minimise the opportunity for children to be harmed. |
Continuous improvement | Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved. |
Policies and procedures | Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children. |
The Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle have been introduced to make organisations safer for children. They guide organisations in promoting children’s rights and safety, and prevent abuse and harm from occurring. For further information, see Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle on the Queensland Family and Child Commission website.
As an organisation that provides services to children and young people, the department must comply with the standards and Universal Principle. The Child safe organisation policy (PDF, 144 KB) (DOCX, 141 KB) demonstrates the department’s commitment to being a child safe organisation, and makes clear that all staff, at all levels of the organisation have a collective responsibility to keep children and young people safe.
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