Standard 8
Voice Over: Standard 8 – Equipping staff and volunteers.
Displayed on screen: (Standard 8 - Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.)
Jacinda de Witts, Deputy Secretary, Regulation, Risk, Integrity and Legal Division speaking to camera: Child safe organisations aim to build the skills, abilities and confidence of their staff to recognise and respond to both unsafe people and unsafe environments. Your organisation needs to regularly provide training for all leaders and staff, on their individual and organisational responsibilities in managing risks of child abuse, child safety and wellbeing risks in your organisation and how to utilise the policies and procedures on child safety.
Voice Over (and displayed on screen): To comply with Standard 8 your organisation must meet the following four minimum requirements:
- Staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
- Staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children.
- Staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm.
- Staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children.
Jacinda de Witts, Deputy Secretary, Regulation, Risk, Integrity and Legal Division speaking to camera: To know if your organisation is meeting Standard 8, ask yourself these questions:
- How are staff made aware of the indicators of abuse and neglect?
- How are staff trained in child safe practices, including children with additional vulnerabilities?
- How do you know if your staff are confident to ask for help with reporting abuse and inappropriate conduct?
- And how does the organisation know who completes training on child safety?
Voice Over (and displayed on screen): For more information on Child Safe Standards visit the departments website.
Reviewed 23 August 2023