The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) help create environments where children and young people are safe, supported and respected.
They provide a nationally consistent framework for organisations that work with children and young people. The National Principles guide organisations to develop cultures and practices that prioritise children's safety and wellbeing. They recognise that safety includes cultural, psychological and physical wellbeing, so that all children and young people feel safe, valued and included, regardless of their background or the organisations they engage with.
The principles apply to all organisations that engage with children and young people, regardless of size, location or sector.
About the National Principles
The National Principles:
- reflect the child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
- recognise that child safety must be part of everyday practice
- support children and young people's cultural, psychological and physical safety.
Child safety must be embedded across policies, behaviours, leadership and decision‑making. Each principle is supported by key actions and performance measures to help organisations strengthen and continuously improve their child safety practices.
Australian, state and territory governments endorsed the National Principles in February 2019. State and territory governments are responsible for implementing the National Principles (or equivalent child safe standards) in their jurisdictions and managing how the principles are applied. Child safe standards implemented by state or territory governments are equivalent to implementing the National Principles.
We work with governments and non-government organisations to support and promote implementation of the National Principles.
Putting the National Principles into practice
Implementing the National Principles means:
- creating a culture that prioritises child safety
- listening to children and young people and taking their views seriously
- identifying and reducing risks
- responding to concerns and harm in a safe, fair and child‑centred way.
Children and young people should feel safe and supported wherever they are, and with any organisation they engage with.
Resources to support implementation
The resources on this page help organisations understand and apply the National Principles in different settings.
Some resources also support parents, carers, other adults, and children and young people to understand how organisations should protect children and how to raise concerns if needed.
Resources for organisations
The National Principles include detailed information about the 10 principles and guidance to help organisations put them into practice. Available in 11 languages.
The introductory self-assessment tool helps organisations understand the National Principles, reflect on their current child safe practices and identify areas for improvement. Available in 11 languages.
The child safety and wellbeing policy template helps organisations develop or review a child safety and wellbeing policy that reflects the National Principles.
The child safety risk management tools help organisations identify, assess and reduce risks to children and young people, and prevent harm before it occurs.
The example code of conduct helps organisations to develop a code of conduct that sets clear expectations for behaviours that promote child safety.
The example charter of commitment helps organisations develop commitments to creating a child safe environment and promoting the rights and wellbeing of children and young people.
The checklist for online safety helps organisations identify and address potential online safety risks and strengthen practices to protect children and young people.
This printable poster includes an overview of the 10 National Principles and can be displayed in organisations that work with children and young people.
The stakeholder communications kit helps share information about the National Principles. It includes ready-to-use social media tiles and captions, and text for newsletters.
The checklist tool helps to identify actions that organisations can take to strengthen child safety practices.
A suite of resources to help organisations create child safe environments that are inclusive, accessible and welcoming for children and young people with disability.
The Keeping Our Kids Safe resources help organisations create culturally safe environments and implement the National Principles in ways that are meaningful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and communities.
Training
The 11 free eLearning modules help to build knowledge and understanding of the National Principles and support organisations to put them into practice. You will be redirected to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
Speaking up and responding to concerns
The Speak up and make a complaint resources include information for children, young people, families and communities about speaking up, raising concerns and what they can expect when making a compliant. Available in 11 languages.
The complaint handling guidance helps organisations to handle complaints in ways that are safe, fair, accessible and responsible to the rights and needs of children and young people.
Resources for parents and carers
This guide helps parents and carers consider whether an organisation is suitable for the children and young people in their lives. Available in 11 languages.