While the National Principles are a nation-wide set of standards, the implementation of them is the responsibility of each state and territory, and each takes a slightly different approach. Goodstart committed to implementing the National Principles and Child Safe Standards early on, and Goodstart centres nationally are required to implement the National Principles or their state based Child Safe Standards. Being a child safe organisation means doing more than the minimum regulatory requirements. So what are the current requirements in your state?
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations have been adopted as the ACT’s ten Child Safe Standards (the Standards). The Standards commenced on 1 August 2024, supported by the Children and Young People Commissioner.
The ACT currently has a Reportable Conduct Scheme administered by the ACT Ombudsman, which oversees how organisations prevent and respond to allegations of child abuse and misconduct.
The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) released the NSW Child Safe Standards in 2020, with early learning services being required to implement the standards from February 2022. The NSW Child Safe Standards are aligned with the National Principles, and the OCG has confirmed that if an organisation is complying with the National Principles, it will be considered to be also complying with the NSW Child Safe Standards. The OCG oversees compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and administering the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
The child safe standards are not currently in force in the Northern Territory (NT). The National Principles have been endorsed by the NT Government, however, the NT has not yet indicated that it will legislate the National Principles.
Queensland has a new child safeguarding law — the Child Safe Organisations Act to take effect from 1 October 2025. Under this law, youth serving organisations will be required to introduce 10 Child Safe Standards, and some will be required to introduce a Reportable Conduct Scheme. The Standards aim to create environments that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and early childhood education and care will commence compliance from 1 January 2026. The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires organisations to report and investigate allegations of child abuse or misconduct by their staff and volunteers and early childhood education and care will commence compliance from 1 July 2027.
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations have replaced the former South Australian Child Safe Environments – Principles of Good Practice. From 1 July 2021, all organisations developing child safe policies and procedures must align these with the National Principles, and reflect the SA legislative context.
Organisations that work with children are required to lodge a Child Safe Environments compliance statement with the Department of Human Services. The statement must be lodged every 5 years and organisations must update their compliance statement whenever there are changes to their organisation.
The Department of Human Services South Australia is responsible for the implementation of the National Principles and the monitoring of organisations’ compliance statements.
The Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework is a legislatively mandated framework comprising of Child and Youth Safe Standards and a Reportable Conduct Scheme effective from 1 January 2024.
Victoria introduced the Victorian Child Safe Standards in January 2016. The standards were amended in July 2022 to align more closely with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and to strengthen protection from child abuse. The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) oversees compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and administering the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
The implementation of the National Principles in Western Australia (WA) is currently voluntary. In 2019, the Commissioner for Child and Young People (CCYP) revised their child safe resources to align with the National Principles.
Western Australia implemented a reportable conduct scheme on 1 January 2023.
