Volume 6 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission) emphasised that organisations working with children must be able to provide safe environments where the rights, needs and interests of children are prioritised and met. The Royal Commission defined child safe organisations as those that create cultures, adopt strategies and take action to prevent harm to children, including child sexual abuse.
In February 2019 the Council of Australian Governments endorsed the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) which enshrine the 10 child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission. Embedding the National Principles in the structures, policies and cultures of organisations is the focus of the remainder of the recommendations in volume 6.
Up to 25,000 organisations across Western Australia (WA) will be impacted by requirements to implement the National Principles. Access to relevant resources and support for organisations is important so they can reflect upon and improve their child safe practices in anticipation of legislative requirements to implement the National Principles.
