Child Safe Scheme legislation passed in NSW Parliament

Legislation passed by the NSW Parliament this week will provide greater consistency in how organisations protect children - a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The Children’s Guardian Amendment (Child Safe Scheme) Bill 2021 gives the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) additional powers to monitor and investigate how organisations implement the Child Safe Standards to support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Advising that the Child Safe Scheme Bill means that the Child Safe Standards will create safer environments and organisations, NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Alister Henskens stated “these changes are all about a consistent standard for how organisations protect children and the passing of this legislation is an important step forward in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission.”

Welcoming the new legislation, Marco Blanco, Chief Executive of child protection and safeguarding consultants, Child Safeguard, explained “we are thrilled that the Child Safe Scheme Bill has been passed by the NSW Parliament.

“(This) is a great move for children and young people across the state, as organisations will now be obligated to implement the Child Safe Standards and create safer environments.

“Implementation of the Child Safe Standards will enable organisations to focus on embedding preventative measures. This will minimise harm to children and young people in their care and enable them to flourish.

“All aquatic and recreation facilities in NSW, including small to large swim schools, should now be taking steps to implement the Child Safe Standards.

“Child Safeguard looks forward to continuing to work with our clients to ensure they are demonstrating best practice in child safety.”

Requirements of the new Regulation of Child Safe Standards
The new legislation creates a regulatory framework that requires child-related organisations in NSW to comply with the Child Safe Standards.

It imposes obligations on the 'head of a child safe organisation' to ensure that the organisation implements the Child Safe Standards through its systems, policies, and processes.

Under the Scheme, the NSW Office of Children's Guardian (OCG) is responsible for monitoring, investigating, and enforcing the implementation of the Child Safe Standards.

How does it affect NSW organisations?
The new Child Safe Scheme affects child-related organisations in NSW, including (but not limited to) those who deliver services in the following sectors:

• Sport and Recreation

• Education

• Early Childhood

• Local Councils

• Out-of-home care providers.

It is critical that organisations are now taking steps to become compliant with the Child Safe Standards.

Is your organisation compliant?
Child Safeguard and the World Wide Swim School have formed a partnership to provide the aquatics industry with the Child Safe Training Hub.

Click here for more information.

Image used for illustrative purposes only.