The HSR is now a sector regulator for organisations that receive funding under a State contract to:
• Provide services in relation to family violence or sexual assault.
• Provide housing services or other assistance to homeless persons.
• Provide support services for parents and families.
• Provide child protection services.
• Provide early therapeutic intervention specifically for children with a disability, additional needs, or developmental delay, and
• 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.
The HSR will remain a sector regulator for the Child Safe Standards until the establishment of the Social Services Regulator on 1 July 2024.
More information about the Social Services Regulator can be found on the Social Services Regulation Reform website.
As a sector regulator for the Child Safe Standards, the HSR has new legislative powers to:
- Provide education, information, and advice on the Child Safe Standards to promote consistency in child safety outcomes.
- Promote continuous improvement by organisations for which it is a sector regulator in relation to the safety of children, the prevention of child abuse and the proper response to allegations of child abuse.
- Investigate, monitor and enforce compliance with the Child Safe Standards by organisations for which it is a sector regulator.
To support consistency with other regulators of the Child Safe Standards, the HSR has referenced the Commission for Children and Young People’s A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation in developing its assessment tool template.
As new targeted resources are developed for the broad range of organisations that the HSR regulates, these resources will be added to the department's Child Safe Standards provider website.
You can email childsafeorgs@dffh.vic.gov.au for further information.