Framework Requirement 1 – Risk assessments

Under Requirement 1 of the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework) Commonwealth entities are required to undertake risk assessments annually in relation to activities of each entity, to identify the level of responsibility for, and contact with, children and young people, evaluate risks to child safety, and put in place appropriate strategies to manage identified risks.

Identifying and mitigating child safety-related risks is a core component of being a child safe organisation. Child safety risks come in many forms, including environmental, operational and cultural risks. The level and type of risk varies across each entity and can change over time. Annually reviewing child safety risks is important to promote a culture of continuous improvement and to identify new risks and support ongoing, appropriate management of existing child safety risks.

Consistent with Requirement 4 of the Framework, the outcomes of each entity’s child safety risk assessment should be included in its annual public statement of compliance with the Framework. More information is available in the Requirement 4 guidance.

The following guidance is designed to support entities to understand what should be considered as part of their annual child safety risk assessment, and strategies to manage these risks.

Annual Risk Assessments

A risk assessment is not meaningful unless it is done regularly and its outcomes are assessed and acted upon. It is important to embed the need for routine risk assessments into corporate policy, Accountable Authority instructions, and/or other governance regimes. It is also important to ensure that the outcomes of a risk assessment are acted upon so that when areas for improvement are identified, effective changes are implemented in a timely manner.

It is recommended that you include a threshold question in your entity’s risk assessment template such as:

“Does this activity involve contact with children by the Department or another party connected to, or funded by, the Department?

Are there any other identifiable child safety risks?”

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then a full child safety risk assessment should be undertaken. Where relevant services or activities are funded by a Commonwealth entity, more information is available on the Application to funded third parties page.

Below is a list of possible child safety risks and potential mitigation strategies for consideration. The area of your entity responsible for advising on risk will be able to provide guidance.

While Requirement 1 of the Framework requires entities to undertake an annual risk assessment to identify child safety risks and mitigation strategies, undertaking an annual risk assessment alone will not improve the safety of children. Child safety should be considered in all aspects of entities’ day‑to‑day business, including other risk assessments. All risk management policies and risk assessment tools should consider including a component that considers child safety risks.