A revised version of the draft National Principles for Child Safe Organisations has been uploaded to the Child Safe Organisations website. This version will be progressed to COAG for consideration and endorsement.
The latest version can be accessed here.
In response to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) is now established within the Federal Department of Social Services. It will have a national leadership role, working across governments and sectors, in the development and implementation of policies and strategies to enhance children's safety and reduce future harm to children.
In line with the Commonwealth's response, NOCS' main immediate tasks will be:
- establishing a mechanism to oversee the development of a national strategy to prevent child sexual abuse
- develop and implement a strategy (including complementary initiatives identified by the RC) in consultation with state and territories and other stakeholders to prevent child sexual abuse
- drive the development of a new national framework for child safety by 2020
- consult with stakeholders on how to conduct a national child maltreatment prevalence study
- work with state and territory governments to coordinate the efforts of the Australian Government and states and territories in implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles), once endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments
- work with state and territory government and other organisations engaging with children, to promote and educate them about the National Principles and their implementation