Supporting implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations in local government
If you have an urgent concern about the safety, health, or welfare of a child, contact emergency services on 000.
If you are a child or adult who has been the victim of child abuse, or if you have information about someone else being abused, you can contact police anytime on 131 444 and can request to speak to a member of the Child Abuse Squad.
If you have concerns for a child’s wellbeing, contact the Department of Communities on 1800 271 889.
Local governments play a vital role in supporting children and young people to actively participate in their communities, managing key local facilities such as pools, libraries, childcare centres, and community programs.
The Local Government Child Safeguarding Project is a key initiative that promotes child safety to local government and encourages local governments to become Child Safe Organisations.
Informed by 2017 final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommendations, the project builds understanding within the sector and provides a range of practical tools and resources to help local governments become Child Safe Organisations.
A Child Safe Organisation puts the best interests of children and young people first.
It creates a culture, adopts strategies, and takes action to promote child wellbeing and prevent harm to children and young people.
The next stage of the Local Government Child Safeguarding Project focuses on implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations,
These principles build on the Royal Commission’s Child Safe Standards and address a broad range of potential harms. They encourage inclusive policies, community engagement, and child participation.
The Principles value the rights of children to be heard and are considered of the diversity of cultures, circumstances and vulnerabilities that exist in communities.
Continued assistance will also remain available to local governments adapting to the range of alternate child safe reforms arising from the Royal Commission.
You can contact the Local Government Child Safeguarding Project team at csproject@lgirs.wa.gov.au
The child safe organisations knowledge hub is part of the State Government’s commitment to supporting the development of safe organisations for Western Australian children and young people.
The hub includes resources for organisations and community service providers; parents, carers, families; and children and young people. Practical examples of how organisations are implementing the National Principles is also included alongside promotional tools and templates.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People WA has developed a range of resources for organisations, their leaders, staff, and volunteers that reflect the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Information also includes guidance for children and young people on how to make a complaint and how an organisation can create a child-friendly complaints system.
In their advocacy for children to reach their full potential, free from harm and neglect, SNAICC have developed an online resource for implementation of the National Principles.
Their resources discuss culturally appropriate strategies to implement the National Principles of Child Organisations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
Are you keen to access networking and collaborative support to progress child safe initiatives within your local government area? Reach out to the Community Policy Team at WALGA who will connect you with the relevant network facilitator via community@walga.asn.au to access this great peer learning opportunity.
The Child Safe Awareness Policy template has been developed in response to Recommendation 6.12 from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and its recognition of the important role that local governments play in building a community approach to child safety.
A tool to assist local governments to understand the association between their level of involvement with children and young people and their obligations under child safe reforms.