Workshop Introduction

Whilst The Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, found that the sexual abuse of children has occurred in almost every type of institution in Australia where children reside or attend, Faith Based institutions had extremely high incidences of sexual and physical abuse.

The Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, also made formal recommendations requiring every religious organisation in Australia working or engaging with children and young people to provide a safe environment where children and young peoples best interests  are at the centre of everything they do and that they are protected from harm.

In order to have a uniform approach to child safety, in 2017 the Australian Government asked the National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, to lead the development of National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. The Australian Government also commissioned the Australian Human Rights Commission to develop practical tools to help organisations implement the National Principles. The National Principles were developed under the guidance of Community Services Ministers across Commonwealth, state and territory governments under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. The National Principles aim to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing across all sectors in Australia. This will help to keep children and young people safe and reduce future harm in organisational settings. The National Principles reflect the ten child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission, with a broader scope that goes beyond child sexual abuse to cover other forms of harm to children and young people.

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Source: www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

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Source: www.humanrights.gov.au

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations have been finalised following sector wide consultation from 2017 – 2018.