The National Office for Child Safety has been transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C).
Announcing the move, PM&C said the change was in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and reflected the importance of the work being led by the National Office.
“The transfer of the National Office from its original home at the Department of Social Services reflects the high priority placed on the safety and protection of children,” PM&C said.
“The National Office leads the development and implementation of a number of initiatives recommended by the Royal Commission. It also builds upon existing initiatives such as the National Redress Scheme and the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020.”
PM&C said the establishment of the National Office did not change the statutory responsibilities of State and Territory Governments with regard to child protection or law enforcement.
It said the National Office provides national leadership, working across Governments and sectors, to deliver national policies and strategies to enhance children’s safety and reduce future harm to children.
It said it leads the development and implementation of a number of national initiatives recommended by the Royal Commission including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse.
The Office was established in July 2018.
