New Child Safe Standards came into effect from 1 July 2022. The Standards aim to protect children and young people by requiring organisations to put policies, procedures and processes in place to prevent and respond to abuse.
Organisations that provide services to children need to comply with the 11 Child Safe Standards.
Resources to support the implementation of the Standards are available on the Child Safe Standards Providers' website.
New sector regulator
From 1 January 2023, the Human Services Regulator (HSR) at the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), is a sector regulator for the Child Safe Standards.
The HSR is a sector regulator for organisations that receive state funding to provide:
- services in relation to family violence or sexual assault
- support services for parents and families
- housing services or other assistance to homeless persons
- child protection services
- early therapeutic intervention, specifically for children with a disability, additional needs or developmental delay.
The HSR is also a sector regulator for organisations that are:
- an out of home care service within the meaning of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
- a disability service provider within the meaning of the Disability Act 2006, and an organisation other than a disability service provider within the meaning of the Disability Act 2006 that provides disability services.
Find out more about the Human Services Regulator here.
If your organisation requires information or guidance about implementation of the Standards, contact childsafeorgs@dffh.vic.gov.au or call 1300 310 778