Nurturing Childcare: Understanding the Australian Child Safe Standards

Importance

Globally, an estimated 1 billion children experience sexual abuse annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the US alone, that is about 1 in 7 children who experience sexual abuse, with girls more likely to be affected. In Australia, it’s estimated that in 2022–23, more than 180,000 children — approximately 1 in 32 — came into contact with the child protection system.

This increase in unsafe environments for children and lack of safety measures for them can lead to long-term mental health consequences like depression, low self-esteem, and suicide. That’s why it’s crucial for institutions to act now — not only by creating safer environments and upholding children’s right to protection but also by prioritizing proactive child observation practices. All of this can help identify signs of harm early, ensure timely intervention, and reinforce accountability at every level.

Why Was the Child Safe Standards Created?

The Child Safe Standards were established in 2013 after Australia’s Royal Commission investigated widespread issues by institutions to protect children from abuse. One of the most  notable contributions to its creation was  a case by whistleblower Peter Fox in 2012, where he uncovered alleged cover-ups  regarding child sexual abuse cases.

After extensive examination, The Royal Commission uncovered a robust amount of evidence of abuse from trusted figures of authority across religious organisations, schools, and youth groups. This led to the implementation of the Child Safe Standards to prevent future harm and ensure institutions uphold children’s rights.

In 2017, The Royal Commission, alongside Australian governments and leading national organisations from sectors that work with children and young people, created the 10 National Principles of safeguarding children. This would now be the standard every institution should follow to create a safe space for children and everyone.

The 10 Principles of Child Safe Standards

1. Leadership and Culture

When leaders foster a culture and workspace of honesty and accountability, their people are less likely to cause harm. Any organisation or institution must start at the top when it comes to child safety.

If a leader doesn’t champion and uphold the values of safeguarding children, then the culture is already rotten to its core. Allegations may be dismissed or silenced, or adults may have the only say—and that is not how you want to run an organisation.

2. Children Should Be Heard and Believed

Ignoring a child’s voice is ignoring a potential warning sign. Giving children a voice—and believing them—is key to finding the root of the problem. An organisation should also be able to adapt to a child’s needs depending on their age, as a  5-year-old is going to be different from a 15-year-old.

There’s also a power imbalance between children and adults. Sometimes kids may be too scared to speak up because of the environment set by the adults around them. Children need to know that it’s okay—and safe—to speak up without fear, as per the concept of protection through participation.

3. Families and Communities Should Be Involved

Families and communities have the right to know where their child is and what they’re doing. Collaboration and transparency are a must for any institution—open or closed. Organisations should proactively engage with each child’s parents or caretaker to avoid blind spots.

When the community is involved, it creates a stronger safety net—and makes it harder for organisations to operate in the shadows.

4. Equity and Diversity

Every child is different and brings their own background and experiences. Some face even more hardships than others, and that needs to be accounted for by the institution. For example, children with disabilities may find it harder to speak up or feel heard.

Child care should be culturally inclusive. Every family should feel welcome within the organisation, and at the same time, every leader and staff member should be able to adapt to each child’s unique and diverse needs.

5. Worker Suitability

A study in Germany revealed that 1 in 3 individuals who had been in psychiatric hospitals during childhood reported experiencing mistreatment and different types of abuse by nursing staff.  That’s why child-focused HR practices and onboarding are essential in organisations that work with children.

Proper recruitment and supervision are necessary because children need to feel safe around staff. They need to know the adults they interact with can be trusted—and that any concerns will be taken seriously, immediately, and directed to HR.

6. Child-focused Processes

This standard directly connects to the previous one—that is, if you have trusted staff, you also need trusted processes. Staff should know exactly who to report to when a complaint is made, and ensure that action is taken.

There should be no barriers to speaking up. Children need to know they’ll be believed and treated fairly. Child-safe organisations must have clear policies and procedures in place to respond appropriately to abuse complaints.

7. Continuous Staff Training

It’s not just the children learning at preschool or daycare—staff need to keep continuously learning as well. Understanding the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect is essential. Everyone in the organisation should be aware of the tactics a perpetrator might use.

Child abuse isn’t always easy to spot, and the signs can vary. That’s why continuous training is crucial for the entire organisation—especially now, with the rise of technology and social media.

8. Physical and Online Protection

Childcare institutions should have proper observation practices in place to ensure their children are in safe environments at all times. This involves regular cleaning, inspecting, and sanitizing. However, there should also be procedures in place to keep children online safe.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), children aged 8 to 12 in the US typically spend 4 to 6 hours a day on screens, while teens can spend up to 9 hours. In Australia, nearly 90% of children use screens each week, with many spending over 10 hours on activities like watching TV, browsing the internet, or playing video games. That’s a lot of time online, especially considering the anonymity and misinformation that come with the internet.

Child-focused organisations need to ensure children are protected around the clock. However, there also needs to be a thoughtful balance between visibility and privacy. Online and physical safety should be a top priority for every institution.

9. Child Safe Standards Should Continuously Be Improved On

Everything is an ongoing process when it comes to child safety. This means learning from past mistakes and near misses so that everyone can grow and improve. If something in the Child Safe Standards isn’t clear or up to date to educators and caretakers, it should be reviewed. And if an incident occurs, that complaint needs to be reported and examined to understand what went wrong—and how to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Safety isn’t a one-time fix. It’s dynamic, ever-evolving. That’s why staying informed and committed to continuous learning is essential.

10. Clear Policies and Procedures

These are the foundations of your organisation. Policies and procedures need to be clear, transparent, and easy to follow. What people see should be what they get. Every policy must also be accessible and actively practised by everyone.

Accountability is key. If a guideline is broken, there needs to be a clear process for holding individuals—or even the organisation—responsible. That’s how you build trust and create a safer environment for children.

How Does Child Safety Standards Differ Internationally

Child safety legislation and standards exist all over the world. For example, in the US, there are Federal Health and Safety Requirements that child-related programmes or businesses must meet to operate. For instance, you’d need to pass building and sanitation inspections before opening. There are also child protection laws in place across every state.

In Europe, child protection policies are also supported by strong laws. One example is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While it’s not only for child safety, it includes rules to protect children’s data, especially around consent and privacy. There are also more specific regulations, like the Toy Safety Directive, which ensures the safety of toys for children—similar to the US toy safety standard, ASTM F963.

In Asia, Japan has several systems that ensure child safety like their Child Welfare Institutions Standards or their School Health and Safety Act. These both make sure that schools and nurseries have the right equipment and staff to ensure a child’s safety. There are also organisations such as  UNICEF and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) that promote child safety standards across the region.

How Technology Can Help Keep Children Safe

While technology does have its issues and ways it can contribute to child danger, it can also be used as a tool to protect children. Various digital advancements, such as AI tools, can help flag harmful content or spot real-time abuse. Other solutions, such as Primero, help connect government caseworkers with service providers for online child protection, acting as a bridge for swift and coordinated action. These advancements represent just a small part of how technology can transform child safety and help create a more secure digital environment for children.

There are also digital solutions that aim to improve safety and efficiency specifically for different childcare institutions.

For example, the Fontana Unified School District, which contains 45 schools, was completely shut down during the COVID pandemic. This led to many changes taking place as classes resumed.  However, with the use of technology such as SafetyCulture, they were able to seamlessly transition.

One of the key SafetyCulture features Fontana Unified School District appreciated was the use of real-time tracking, especially with 45 schools to keep count of. Tracking, managing, and inspecting became quick and easy with digital checklists and QR codes for asset management. All of this was made public, ensuring clear transparency between the school and parents. In the process, the use of paper for filing and documenting was no longer necessary, removing one hassle in the new normal that teachers, staff, and students had to face.

Another example is the Hamwic Education Trust, a multi-academy trust of 31 schools operating throughout the south coast of England. When it comes to statutory compliance across all the different schools—everything from fire safety to bus safety—it can involve a lot of paperwork. But thanks to technology and SafetyCulture, audits, school compliance overviews, inspections, and assessments were all done digitally. Inspectors could quickly see which schools were compliant and which weren’t, saving time, manpower, and stress—exactly what technology should help with.