Victorian Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme

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The Victorian Child Safe Standards set out minimum requirements and outline the actions organisations must take to keep children and young people safe. 

They provide guidance for organisations to ensure that policies and procedures are in place to protect children and young people from harm, promote their participation and wellbeing and respond to reports of abuse or misconduct. 

To find out about how Council is addressing these Standards see Child Safe Community Update 2025(PDF, 404KB)

Victorian Child Safe Standards

The Standards are:

  • Standard 1 - Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
  • Standard 2 - Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
  • Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
  • Standard 4 - Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
  • Standard 5 - Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
  • Standard 6 - People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
  • Standard 7 - Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.
  • Standard 8 - Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
  • Standard 9 - Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
  • Standard 10 - Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
  • Standard 11 - Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Reportable Conduct Scheme

The Reportable Conduct Scheme investigates allegations of abuse or misconduct by employees, volunteers or contractors against children or young people.

Reportable conduct includes the following behaviours (against, with or in the presence of a child):

  • Sexual offences
  • Sexual misconduct
  • Physical violence
  • Behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm
  • Significant neglect

Under the Scheme, the Social Services Regulator (SSR) has the power to:

  • receive allegations and findings of reportable conduct
  • assess an organisation’s systems to prevent, notify, and investigate reportable conduct
  • provide oversight of investigations
  • investigate allegations in some circumstances
  • refer findings to professional registration bodies and the Working with Children Check Unit
  • build the capacity of organisations to respond to allegations of abuse
  • report to Parliament on performance of the Scheme and trends.

The Scheme does not replace or interfere with police investigations. SSR works with Victoria Police to make sure allegations of criminal conduct are dealt with appropriately.

If you have a concern about Hume City Council Councillors, staff or volunteers Visit Our Reporting Child Abuse Page 

 

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