Commonwealth Child Safe Framework strengthened

The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework) has been updated to include additional reporting requirements for Australian Government entities, following a review this year. The second edition of the Framework came into effect on 14 December 2020.

The Framework is a whole-of-government policy that sets minimum standards for Australian Government entities to provide environments where children and young people are safe, protected and respected.

In 2020, the National Office for Child Safety reviewed the first edition of the Framework, introduced in February 2019, looking at how the Framework was being implemented and to identify what was working well and what improvements could be made. The review showed a clear shift toward improved child safe approaches across the Commonwealth, but also showed an opportunity to improve transparency and accountability.

Starting in 2021, all Commonwealth non-corporate entities will be required to publish an annual statement of compliance with the Framework.

Guidance material for the Framework has also been strengthened to better support government entities to implement child safe practices, including providing additional guidance on application to funded third parties.