The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) has been granted additional powers under new legislation to monitor and investigate how organisations implement its Child Safe Standards.
Announced by the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Alister Henskens, the Children’s Guardian Amendment (Child Safe Scheme) Bill 2021 implements a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“These changes are all about a consistent standard for how organisations protect children and the passing of this legislation is an important step forward in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission,” Mr Henskens said.
“The Child Safe Standards provide a framework for organisations to create and maintain child-safe cultures, operations and environments,” he said.
NSW Children’s Guardian, Janet Schorer said the OCG would support organisations with the implementation of the Standards in ways that were appropriate to their size, resources and the nature of their involvement with children.
“We will support all organisations to implement the Child Safe Standards, with capability building and support being the foundation of our approach,” Ms Schorer said.
“This reflects the importance of education in changing attitudes and cultures that may make children vulnerable to all forms of abuse, including sexual, physical, emotional and ill-treatment and neglect,” she said.
Ms Schorer said that under the new Scheme, certain child-related organisations, including in the Education, Early Childhood, Health and Youth Justice sectors, must implement the Child Safe Standards.
She said local Councils, religious organisations providing services to children and sport and recreation organisations providing services to children would also be required to implement the Standards.
Further information on the OCG’s Child Safe Standards can be accessed at this PS News link.
