Our Child Safe Commitment

Commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all kids

Act for Kids is committed to the protection of children’s human and legal rights to be safe, heard and cared for. At Act for Kids, we work with children, young people and families who may have experienced adversity and have made it our purpose to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.

Across Act for Kids, we actively align our practices to national and state-based child safe principles and standards, including the:

• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• New South Wales and Victorian Child Safe Standards
• Queensland Child Safe Standards, including the Universal Principle
• Queensland’s Charter of Rights for a Child in Care, Standards of Care, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle under the Child Protection Act 1999
• South Australian Child Safe Environments Program and Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care.

Each of these standards are a minimum set of requirements for organisations providing services to children in the relevant jurisdictions and services. This ensures that children’s voices are heard and prioritised, their safety is promoted, child harm is prevented, and allegations of child harm are properly responded to.

Commitment to ensuring kids are culturally safe

In upholding the Universal Principle, Act for Kids is committed to creating an organisational environment that ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families feel welcome, safe, valued, included and respected.  To find out more about our commitment to keeping kids safe in culture and our vision for reconciliation, visit https://www.actforkids.com.au/about/reconciliation-action-plan/.

Commitment to protecting kids from harm

We partner with families to build their resilience and help them keep their kids safe and thriving. If our team members become aware that a child or young person is at risk of, or experiencing, harm we talk openly to families about our worries and work with protective caregivers to respond to and plan for safety. If we are really worried about a child’s safety we will also report our concerns to the relevant child protection authority, however where possible, these reports are made in partnership with families to ensure the best outcomes for kids.

If you have concerns that a child is at risk of significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect, please report to your state or territory’s Child Protection agency.