Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Commencement

This policy takes effect from January 2025 and supersedes all previous policies, whether documented or not.

Last Updated: 1 August 2025

Purpose

The Children’s Rights Alliance Inc. trading as Children’s Rights Queensland is committed to safeguarding all children and young people by fostering an environment where their rights are respected, and their safety and wellbeing are prioritised.

This policy aims to:

Embed children’s safety in all activities and decision-making.
Clarify the roles of volunteers, ambassadors, and staff.
Align practices with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and legislative requirements.

Scope

This policy applies to:

Leadership Team
Executive
Employees
Contractors
Volunteers

The individuals above will be referred to as ‘Team Members’ throughout this policy.

Definitions

Child: Any individual under 18 years of age.
Child harm or abuse: Refers to any action, behaviour, or treatment that causes or is likely to cause physical or emotional harm to a child or young person.
Cultural Safety: Practices that respect and uphold the cultural identity of children, particularly First Nations children.

Roles and Responsibilities

Executive: Ensure compliance and strategic oversight.
Volunteers: Promote child safety and adhere to this policy.
Contractors: Conduct risk assessments and provide culturally safe environments.

Policy Statement

At the core of Children’s Rights Alliance Inc. is an unwavering commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing. Our initiatives focus on education and awareness of children’s rights. This involves the delivery of programs, events and consultation. We are dedicated to creating environments that are inclusive, safe, and welcoming for all children, including First Nations children, children with disabilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

We hold a zero-tolerance stance on child abuse and are committed to preventing harm through robust processes and swift responses to incidents.

We demonstrate this commitment by:

Implementing the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Promoting and advocating for children’s rights as outlined in the UNCRC.
Sharing this Policy with all employees, contractors and volunteers, who are required to adhere to it.
Providing induction and ongoing training on children's rights, safety, and wellbeing.
Mandating the prompt reporting of any concerns regarding child harm or abuse.
Investigating complaints thoroughly and without delay.
Ensuring all employees and volunteers maintain a valid Working with Children’s Check.
Actively listening to children and advocating for their right to feel safe and empowered.
Identifying and managing risks to children’s safety proactively.
Making this Policy publicly accessible on our website.
Reviewing the Policy and related procedures every two years to ensure their continued effectiveness.

By embedding these actions across our work, we aim to create a culture of safety and respect, empowering children and upholding their rights.

Implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations:

Principle One:

Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing

National Principle 1: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

CRA’s leadership and governance team model a strong commitment to child safety by:

Publicly declaring its dedication to child safety on its website and in publications.
Establishing a Child Safe Code of Conduct for all team members.
Conducting regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential harm.
Developing policies and procedures that support a culture of child safety and wellbeing.

Principle Two:

Taking Child Participation Seriously

National Principle 2: Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

CRA ensures that children and young people are empowered to participate in decisions affecting their lives by:

Incorporating their feedback into resources.
Hosting interactive workshops, events, and consultation sessions where children can share their views.
Providing child-friendly materials that educate children about their rights and safety.
Ensuring all team members have access to training on child-rights and safety.

Principle Three:

Involving Families and Communities

National Principle 3: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing

CRA actively engages families and communities by:

Sharing policies and procedures in accessible formats.
Holding free community events for families.
Consulting families and community leaders during the development of child rights resources.
Building partnerships with First Nations communities to develop resources and promote cultural safety and inclusion.

Principle Four:

Respecting Equity and Diversity

National Principle 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

CRA fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment by:

Implementing anti-discrimination and accessibility policies and practices that address diverse needs.
Engaging First Nations Peoples to support with resource development.
Designing resources and programs that consider the specific needs of children with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and those from linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Principle Five:

Ensuring That Staff Are Suitable and Supported

National Principle 5: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

To maintain high standards of child safety, CRA:

Conducts rigorous pre-employment screening for team members, including Blue Card checks.
Provides induction training for team members.
Communicates processes and obligations for child safety.

Principle Six:

Child-Focused Complaint Systems

National Principle 6: Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.

CRA prioritises accessible and responsive complaint mechanisms by:

Establishing clear processes for reporting and investigating concerns.
Maintains policies and makes resources available to team members on how to report issues.
Training staff and volunteers on handling complaints and mandatory reporting obligations.

Principle Seven:

Staff Knowledge, Skills, and Awareness

National Principle 7: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

CRA ensures its team is well-equipped to uphold child safety by:

Delivering regular webinars on children’s rights, recognising harm, and responding to disclosures.
Providing team members with resources on child safety.
Encouraging continuous learning and reflection through webinars and professional exchanges.

Principle Eight:

Safe Physical and Online Environments

National Principle 8: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

CRA minimises risks in all environments by:

Conducting risk assessments for venues, events and digital platforms.
Enforcing a strict child safety Code of Conduct.
Promoting safe digital practices.

Principle Nine:

Review of Child Safe Policies and Practices

National Principle 9: Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.

CRA commits to continuous improvement by:

Conducting biannual reviews of its child safety policies with input from children, families, and stakeholders.
Analysing feedback and incidents to identify areas for enhancement.
Publishing findings and updates to maintain transparency.

Principle Ten:

Documenting Policies and Procedures

National Principle 10: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

CRA ensures its child safety documentation is accessible and comprehensive by:

Sharing its child-friendly Charter of Commitment to Children and Young People
Providing resources that use multiple languages.
Regularly assessing the accessibility and understanding of its policies among staff, contractors and stakeholders.

Reporting Child Harm or Abuse Concerns:

At the Children’s Rights Alliance Inc., we believe that safeguarding children is fundamental to everything we do.

Reporting Process

Employees, Contractors and Volunteers: Must report any concerns about child harm or abuse here or a member of the Leadership Team.
Members of the Public: Are encouraged to report concerns involving Children’s Rights Queensland, its employees, or volunteers here.

Handling Reports

All reports will be:

Taken seriously and addressed promptly.
Investigated thoroughly, prioritising cultural safety and a child-focused approach.
Managed in accordance with reporting, privacy, and employment law obligations.

Confidentiality and Cooperation

Employees, contractors and volunteers must maintain confidentiality and fully cooperate with any investigation. Children's Rights Queensland will protect the confidentiality of complaint information, except where disclosure is necessary to properly address the complaint or ensure child safety.

Risk Assessments

CRA is committed to proactively identifying, assessing, and managing risks to child safety and wellbeing in all activities, programs, and services. Risk assessments are conducted regularly to evaluate potential harm to children, including physical, emotional, and psychological risks. These assessments consider factors such as the nature of the activity, the environment, the vulnerabilities of the children involved, and the capabilities of staff and volunteers. Risk mitigation strategies are implemented to minimise identified risks, and all staff are trained to recognise and respond to potential risks. Risk assessments are documented and reviewed periodically to ensure they remain current and effective in maintaining a safe environment for all children.

Breaches of this policy

Non-compliance with this policy by anyone may result in investigations, corrective actions, disciplinary measures (e.g., warnings or termination), or reporting to relevant authorities. Breaches must be reported promptly to a member of the Children’s Rights Alliance Leadership Team.

Questions:

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