Families Australia: submission to the Royal Commission into Institutional responses to Child Sexual Abuse of Issues Paper three regarding Child Safe Institutions

(This is an extract of the full submission. Please contact Families Australia to request a copy of the full version)

Summary

We argue four propositions: first, a comprehensive nationally-consistent approach to child safe organisations should be fully implemented at the earliest possible time; second, such an approach should include a rigorous accountability and monitoring regime; third, adequate supports should be provided to organisations in developing rules suitable to their specific needs; and, finally, oversight of this approach should be undertaken through the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020, the national plan to tackle child abuse and neglect.

Recommendations

A comprehensive nationally-consistent approach to child safe organisations should be established at the earliest possible time based on nationally-agreed minimum standards.
A nationally-consistent approach should include rigorous accountability and monitoring arrangements.
Adequate supports and guidance tools should be provided to organisations in developing and applying rules suitable to their specific needs in line with the agreed national standards.

Oversight of a comprehensive nationally-consistent approach to child safe organisations should be undertaken through the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020, the national plan to tackle child abuse and neglect.