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The Child Safe Standards (the Standards)

The Standards are compulsory minimum standards for all Victorian schools, to ensure they are well prepared to protect children from abuse. Ministerial Order 870 — Child Safe Standards — Managing the risk of child abuse in schools outlines how the Standards apply in schools.

Most schools already have policies and procedures that aim to keep children safe.

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) is responsible for ensuring school compliance with the Standards. Schools are required to comply with the standards for registration.

There are seven standards plus a principle of inclusion:

Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety

Standard 2: A child safety policy or a statement of commitment to child safety

Standard 3: A child safety code of conduct

Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse

Standard 5: Procedures for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse

Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse

Standard 7: Strategies to promote child participation and empowerment

Principle of inclusion: Schools must take account of and make reasonable efforts to accommodate the diversity of all children in implementing the Child Safe Standards, including (but not limited to) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable