Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard #5: 

Processes for responding to and reporting suspected abuse

Organisations have a responsibility to promote and provide an environment in which children, staff and volunteers are encouraged to speak up when they are uncomfortable or concerned.

This includes:

• recognising that the safety of children is everyone’s responsibility
• having a clear procedure for reporting concerns and allegations
• encouraging children to report if they feel unsafe or concerned
• making people within the organisation aware of their duty of care and legal responsibilities
• appropriately acting on concerns and complaints
• keeping and securely storing accurate records.

Responding to a child: 

If a child discloses an incident of abuse, there are a number of key actions that you and your organisation should undertake to effectively respond.

Action One: Respond to an emergency

Action Two: Report to authorities/referring to services

Action Three: Contact parents/carers

Action Four: Provide ongoing support