Commitment to Child Safety

Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Scheme, regulated by the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) was introduced in NSW February 2022. This scheme embeds the Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 to guide child safe practice in NSW.

Many elements of the Child Safe Standards overlap with the National Quality Framework (NQF) and therefore Early Childhood Education and Care services are already in a great position to meet the Child Safe Standards. While the NQF provides a sound educational and safety framework, the Child Safe Standards add safety practices in relation to preventing organisational abuse. That is, preventing or minimising harm and abuse to children in early childhood services by educators, staff or other children.

Early childhood services already have a strong child and family centred approach and are knowledgeable about child protection and risk assessments in relation to the physical environment and medical conditions. These are solid foundations for implementing the Child Safe Standards.

For many early childhood services, implementing the Child Safe Standards will only require a shift in the way they think about risk (including organisational risk of harm and abuse) and extending on existing child safe practices and risk management.

The 10 Child Safe Standards are:

Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Families and communities are informed and involved.
Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account.
People working with children are suitable and supported.
Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused.
Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training.
Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur.
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe

Reference | NSW Government, NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, Child Safe Scheme, 2024, date accessed 30/05/2024 https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-scheme

Watch the video on the left on the Child Safe Standards and the Child Safe Scheme

Reference | NSW Government, NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, Child Safe Standards and the Child Safe Scheme, accessed 30/05/2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vExwN-u2Abw&t=1s

Resources to help you understand and implement the Child Safe Standards

g_CSS_GuidetotheStandards.pdf

Complete the OCG's Child Safe Self-Assessment!This will help your organisation identify how it can be safer for children. You'll receive a free Action Report at the end, including links to helpful resources.

Reference | NSW Government, NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, Resources, accessed 30/05/2024, https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/resources

Joint action on strengthening the safety and quality of early childhood education and care across Australia

Education Ministers met in Sydney on Friday 22 August 2025 for a meeting on child safety in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every child in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a shared national priority.

Governments across Australia have come together to strengthen safety, improve quality, protect children.

Together, we are building a system where safety is embedded in every aspect of ECEC through:

robust regulation
aligned decision-making
a deep commitment to safeguarding children.

The vast majority of educators are professionals doing the right thing while educating and caring for our youngest Australians. While the National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a strong and effective foundation for ECEC, ongoing efforts are essential to further strengthen safeguards that ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child.

You can read about the joint actions governments are taking to build a safer early learning system – where every decision puts children first here https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/joint-action-child-safety and below in the Education Ministers Meeting Communique below.

Source | https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/joint-action-child-safety

EMM Communique 22 August 2025.pdf

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