Wellbeing Report

Child safe organisations 

When your child is in the care of educators at school, you want to know that they will be safe from abuse. The Child Safe Standards are designed to prevent child abuse in organisations. The Child Safe Standards apply to over 50,000 Victorian organisations that provide services or facilities for children including schools and outside school hours care. 

How do the Child Safe Standards protect my child? 

The Standards require organisations to take actions in a range of areas, including: 

• background and suitability checks of staff and volunteers • codes of conduct for staff and volunteers 

• training and supervision of staff and volunteers 

• documented risk assessments  

• clear procedures for reporting and acting on any concerns or allegations 

• commitment to listening to children and encouraging them to speak up if they don’t feel safe.

How do I know if an organisation is meeting the Child Safe Standards? 

You can look on their website or talk to the staff. The organisation should have documents like: 

• Child Safe Policy or Statement of Commitment to Child Safety 

• Code of Conduct for workers and volunteers 

• information about how to raise safety concerns.

How do I ask my child if they feel safe? 

Below are some examples of questions you can ask your child, changing the wording depending on your child’s age. 

• Do you know that you should always feel safe, no matter where you are? 

• What do you like about (the organisation)? 

• Is there anything you don’t like? 

• Have you ever felt uncomfortable, worried or not safe? 

• Who would you talk to if you feel unsafe? 

• Has anyone at (the organisation) ever talked to you about what they can do to make you feel safe? 

• Do the staff listen to you and the other children? 

• What do you hope will happen if you tell someone you don’t feel safe?