Child Safe Principles

In February 2019, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations were endorsed by all state and territory governments and the Australian Government. The principles aim to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing.

The National Principles reflect 10 child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Australian, state and territory Education Ministers have agreed to changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) in relation to the National Child Safe Principles.

NQF CHANGES:

Changes to the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations relating to embedding Child Safe Principles commenced from 1 October 2023. We have been busy organising for Robert to join us early in 2024 to ensure we are embedding the Child Safe Princples into our practice in a meaningful way.

Michelle & Robert go way back and when Michelle was chatting with Robert about his implementation of the Victorian Child Safe Standards in Early Childhood settings and his recent role as Senior Advisor for Safeguarding Children and Young People for a Local Government, she was blown away by his knowledge and understanding of these NEW Principles to SA and knew he would be the perfect person to come along and share with us.

After this session you will confidently be able to talk about the Child Safe Principles, and be able to apply changes to ensure you are a Child Safe Organisation in line with the NQF.

This session will be great for service Leadership Teams, Owner Operators, Family Day Care Coordinators, DfE Leaders/Directors, OSHC Directors and Nominated Supervisors or Approved Providers in the private/independent school sector.  

We will have plenty of time for networking, sharing policies and asking questions.

NB: Some discussion could be triggering and there will be opportunity to move from the room and Michelle will be there to support anyone who needs support. These are important conversations, however we know that they can be challenging.  

ROBERT STEVENS BIO

Robert has worked in the early childhood education and care sector for 18 years across various positions from educator to operations manager across Queensland and Victoria. In recent years, Robert has been instrumental in leading teams to understand, implement and embed the Victoria Child Safe Standards within an early childhood setting. Robert is a passionate advocate for safeguarding the rights and welfare of children and young people in the community.

Robert’s current role is a Senior Advisor for Safeguarding Children & Young People for a Local Government and uses his operational knowledge of business operations, reflective practice and continuous improvement to lead the implementation of the Child Safe Standards and related legislative obligations, working with internal and external stakeholders to develop policies, procedures, and systems that support the prevention and response to child abuse and harm.

Robert provides guidance, training, and advice to staff and volunteers on their roles and responsibilities in relation to child safety and wellbeing. Additionally, he coordinates the participation in the Child Safe Organisations National Principles and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

For more information about this event, please contact Michelle Walsh

📱0422 104 756 

📧 michellewalshconsultancy@outlook.com