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Aware. Protective. Safe. Strategy

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are strengthening our approach to keeping all children and young people safe from sexual abuse in Queensland schools and early childhood services by implementing the national principles for child safe organisations.

In 2020, the Department of Education released ​the Aware.​ Protective. Safe. strategy and Child safe environment map​. This was in response to the final report from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The actions outlined in the strategy and roadmap reflected our response to the Royal Commission and additional initiatives to enhance our culture of awareness, protection and safety for all Queensland children and young people.

Since the release of the original strategy and roadmap, the department has continued to develop its suite of resources that strengthen our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. In August 2021, the department released the second iteration of both the Aware. Protectiv​e. Safe. strategy and Child safe environment map, further reinforcing how we are building on our existing child safe environment by implementing the national principles for child safe organisations.

To support this, the department has also since released the Child safe environment report that describes the measures in place and actions undertaken that have strengthened the department’s commitment and approach to child safety as an area with the lowest appetite for risk.​

Our commitment

The Department of Education is committed to:

  • ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Queensland children and young people through safe, supportive and disciplined environments
  • ​supporting culturally safe educational environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people​
  • working with an supporting partners to keep children and young people safe and well
  • supporting people who have experienced sexual abuse and build their awareness of help available
  • responding promptly and efficiently to allegations of harm to children and young people
  • providing a child safe environment through implementation of the national principles for child safe organisations.

Our approach

  • Reflect—The department developed a roadmap to strengthen the approach to keeping children and young people safe in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
  • Strengthen—Implement improvements to our approach and enhance the capabilities of education partners through the provision of information and resources.
  • Embed—Integrate improved strategies into core business for all members of the community.
  • Review—Assess the efficacy of our approach and strengthen with evidence-based best practice.

Our implementation values

Involve

We will consult with children and young people in the decisions that affect them and listen to what they have to say.

Include

We will reflect equity and the diverse needs, lived experience​s and cultural safety of all children and young people in our approach.

Inform

We will work with our families and communities to ensure they are aware and equipped to recognise, prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.

Implement

We will build on actions that support the national principles for child safe organisations and respond to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Improve

We will continuously improve our understanding and approach to preventing and responding to child sexual abuse.

National principles for child safe organisations

The national principles (PDF, 1.9MB) were created by the National Children’s Commissioner and build upon the child safe standards that were recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in their final report, released in 2017. The national principles were endorsed by the Council of the Australian Governments (COAG) in February 2019.

The strategy uses Aware. Protective. Safe. to organise the national principles into areas of implementation focus. The Department of Education currently satisfies the principles and will continue to review and strengthen its approach as an ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Queensland children.

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Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and well-being.


Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.


People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing practices.

Protective

Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and well-being.


Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.


People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing practices.

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Child safety and well-being is embedded in organisation leadership, governance and culture.


Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focussed.


Implementation of principles is regularly reviewed and improved.


Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Aware

Child safety and well-being is embedded in organisation leadership, governance and culture.


Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focussed.


Implementation of principles is regularly reviewed and improved.


Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

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Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.


Physical and online environments promote safety and well-being and limit opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.


Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

Safe

Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.


Physical and online environments promote safety and well-being and limit opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.


Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

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Since the release of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse final report, the department has implemented substantial measures to ensure that all children and young people are safe from sexual abuse in Queensland schools and early childhood services. 

Our child safe environment

The department achieves a child safe environment by reflecting the national principles for child safe organisations in our policies, procedures, guidelines and leadership throughout all levels of the organisation. The Department of Education’s Child safe environ​ment map and Child safe environment report illustrates how we are currently upholding each of the national principles.

The Royal Commission into Institution Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (‘the Commission’) was established by the Australian Government in January 2013 to investigate how institutions have responded to child sexual abuse allegations emerging in Australia. The Commission sat for 5 years and made a total of 409 recommendations across 4 reports.

Resources and links

Office of the eSafety Commissioner (OeSC)
The OeSC website provides guidance on specific safety issues including cyberbullying, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse, technology-related concerns for people at risk of family or domestic violence.

National Office for Child Safety
The National Office for Child Safety (the National Office) provides national leadership, working across governments and sectors, to deliver national policies and strategies to enhance children’s safety and reduce future harm to children.

Human Rights
The Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) (the Act) makes it unlawful for public entities (i.e. state schools and departmental staff) to act or make a decision in a way that is not compatible with a human right or, in making a decision, fails to give proper consideration to a relevant human right.

Staff who develop or review policies and procedures may use this resource to assess compatibility with human rights, and identify any changes needed.

The departments human rights framework outlines the department’s commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in everyday decisions and actions.

National Redress
The National Redress Scheme has been created in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse listened to thousands of people about the abuse they experienced as children. The abuse happened in orphanages, Children’s Homes, schools, churches and other religious organisations, sports clubs, hospitals, foster care and other institutions.

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Last updated 17 August 2021