Child Safe Standards

Horsham Rural City Council is committed to providing and promoting child safe environments. Council has zero tolerance to child abuse and aims to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children feel safe and secure and have fun.  This includes the physical, emotional, cultural and social wellbeing of all children.

While seven mandatory Child Safe Standards have been in effect in Victoria since 2016, the Victorian Government announced eleven new Standards were to replace the seven, commencing 1 July 2022. The eleven new Standards were made to support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for a Child Safe Organisation developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Betrayal of Trust Enquiry).

Council has two Child Safety Officers (Kevin O’Brien, Director Communities and Place and Mandi Stewart, Manager Community Services and Safety) with the specific responsibility for responding to any complaints made by staff, volunteers, parents or children. 

Updated documents to guide staff, volunteers, families and children through the new Standards include the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy(PDF, 688KB) and the Reporting a Child Safety Concern Procedure(PDF, 828KB).

Any Child Safety concerns can be reported using the Child Safe Incident Report Form(DOCX, 37KB).

View the Child Safe Standards reporting process(PDF, 514KB)

Child Safe 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

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously

Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing

Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice

Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

Child Safe 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

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed

Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved

Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people