Every organisation has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe.
Children’s Week (held from 21-29 October this year) is not only a time to celebrate children but also exists to remind us of our responsibility to advocate for children as citizens and their right to a positive childhood.
Western Australian organisations engaged in child-related work are recommended to take on this responsibility and lead child safe workplaces and cultures by implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
The National Principles reflect 10 child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, with a broader scope to prevent harm to children and young people. They outline consistent behaviours and practices organisations should adopt to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people they interact with.
How do you know your organisation is child safe? You can complete a self-assessment and find practical resources and examples to implement the National Principles via the Child Safe Organisations Knowledge Hub.
The Department of Communities is committed to being a child safe organisation and is working with other government agencies, the community services sector, peak bodies and other jurisdictions to drive the implementation of the National Principles across Western Australia.
