Australian Child Safe Standards – A State By State Guide 2025
What Are The Current Child Safe Standards & Principles For Each State in Australia?
Child safety is a paramount concern across Australia, and developing comprehensive Child Safe Standards has been a crucial step towards protecting children and young people.
Over the decades, different legislation in Australia has addressed the protection of children. In 2009, the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children was endorsed, with federal, state and territory governments working together to further develop the framework over time.
In 2017, the Royal Commission’s recommendations paved the way for creating National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. These principles serve as a foundation for creating a unified approach to child safety, ensuring that organisations prioritise the protection and well-being of children and young people in both physical and online environments. You can read the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse here. In 2019, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations were introduced on a federal level.
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations are:
- Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
- Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and well-being.
- Equity is upheld, and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
- People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and well-being values in practice.
- Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child-focused.
- Through ongoing education and training, staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe.
- Physical and online environments promote safety and well-being while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.
- Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
How Has Each State & Territory Implemented The National Principles?
Since the introduction of The National Principles on a federal level, each state and territory has taken steps towards implementing statewide frameworks and reportable conduct schemes.
While Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania have established legislation following the National Principles, Queensland is set to implement the National Principles in 2025 and Western Australia and the Northern Territory have yet to fully implement these National Principles.
This article serves as a comprehensive state-by-state guide, providing insights into the development, application, and current status of the National Principles and Child Safe Standards nationwide in 2025.
Here is where each state has landed as of 2025, including a recent implementation of the Queensland framework and changes to Victoria’s and WA’s Reportable Conduct Scheme.
New South Wales Child Safe Standards
The NSW Child Safe Standards framework, which is aligned with the National Principles, was introduced in 2020 by the NSW OCG (Office of the Children’s Guardian). As of 2022, under the Child Safe Scheme, NSW legislated their statewide framework as the primary standard for children’s safety and wellbeing. You can learn more about New South Wales framework here.
Victoria’s Child Safe Standards & Reportable Conduct Scheme
In 2016, Victoria introduced the Child Safe Standards, and in 2022 the Child Safe Standards were amended to be reflective of The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Victoria has an additional standard that is focused on creating aculturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. You can view the 11 standards here.
In 2017 the Reportable Conduct Scheme was implemented and rolled out over a period of time, and in 2024, amendments were made to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 which broadened the definition of an employee for the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
The new types of employees covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme include:
- Workers or volunteers provided by labour hire agencies, companies, or other providers, such as relief teachers and additional support workers
- Secondees
- Individual business owners who employ or engage staff
- Directors of companies where the director performs work for the organisation.
Tasmania’s Child and Youth Safe Standards & Reportable Conduct Scheme
In 2024, Tasmania’s child safety legislation came into effect with the commencement of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 (Tas). These laws establish the Child and Youth Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme Tasmania. The Independent Regulator is the statutory body that oversees these frameworks.
Tasmania has implemented 10 Child Safe Standards which align with the National Principles for Child Safety. They aim to keep children safe, mitigate incidents of child abuse and protect the cultural safety of Aboriginal children. You can view the framework here.
Western Australia’s Child Safe Standards & Reportable Conduct Scheme
As of 2025, Western Australia is still guided by the Australian Government’s National Principles for Child Safe Organisations but has not implemented the Principles into legislation.
In a website release, updated on 11 March 2024, the WA’s Department of Communities stated:
“The WA Government is committed to supporting the development of safe organisations for children and young people and is working to develop an independent oversight system that includes monitoring and enforcing the National Principles.
In the meantime, the WA Government encourages organisations across the state that engage with children and young people to implement the National Principles. WA Government departments that engage with children and young people, including the Department of Communities, are also taking steps to be child safe organisations.”
In 2023 Western Australia implemented a Reportable Conduct Scheme and this was expanded in 2024 to include reportable allegations of emotional and psychological harm, and significant neglect. Previously, the Scheme only covered sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and physical abuse.
From 1 January 2024, the definition of reportable conduct will expand to also include:
- Significant neglect of a child
- Any behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child.
More information can be found here, on the Department of Communities website.
South Australia’s Child Safe Environments Program
South Australia have The Child Safe Environments Program which has adopted the National Principles as well as state-informed policy.
The Department of Human Services in South Australia oversees The Child Safe Environments Program and they are responsible for the implementation of the National Principles. They assist organisations in creating Child Safe policies and organisations can submit a compliance statement indicating they are a Child Safe organisation.
South Australia does not currently have a Reportable Conduct Scheme in operation.
Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) Child Safe Standards
The ACT has committed to implementing the National Principles, however there are currently no Child Safe Standards in place.
In 2019, the ACT government ran a four-month-long public consultation to develop a Child Safe Standards Scheme for 2020. The ACT government cited delays due to the pandemic and, as of 2025, has yet to implement any territory-specific legislation. This means the ACT still uses the National Principles to inform their child safety efforts.
The ACT currently has a Reportable Conduct Scheme which is administered by the ACT Ombudsman.
Queensland’s Child Safe Standards & Reportable Conduct Scheme
In 2024, Queensland passed new legislation, the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, which will bring into effect the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The 10 Child Safe Standards will be brought into effect through the Child Safe Organisations System, which will be introduced in a phased approach from 1 October 2025. Different sectors will have to meet their legal responsibilities at different times.
The implementation of the Reportable Conduct Scheme will commence from 1 July 2026 in a phased approach.
You can read more about the implementation of these frameworks and the timeline of the phased approach here.
Northern Territory’s Child Safe Standards & Mandatory Reporting
At this stage, the Northern Territory has endorsed the National Principles but has yet to implement any territory-specific legislation. The Office Of The Children’s Commissioner oversees Child Safe Organisations.
Mandatory Reporting in NT is currently not informed by specific careers or working in particular organisations; instead, it is the responsibility of all residents over 18 who believe a child may be at risk of harm. No further changes are expected in these areas at the time of writing this.
Online Environments and Cultural Safety
Acknowledging the evolving landscape, the National Principles recognise the need for online safety and institutional responses to protect children from potential harm, including child sexual abuse. Additionally, a culturally safe environment is essential, fostering an inclusive Child Safe culture that considers every child’s diverse needs.
The Role of Organisations in Implementation
Organisations play a pivotal role in the implementation of the National Principles and Child Safe Standards. They must create Child Safe cultures and provide practical tools for their staff to live and breathe these principles.
These standards require a commitment to ongoing education, regular reviews of procedures, and the adoption of a comprehensive approach to child safety and wellbeing.
Keeping Children Safe Nationwide
The Australian Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with the National Office of the National Children’s Commissioner, is actively working to support the implementation of the National Principles. The aim is to keep children and young people safe by encouraging organisations to reflect child safety in every aspect of their operations.
As the implementation of the National Principles progresses across states, Australia is moving closer to the goal of creating Child Safe organisations that protect children and young people from abuse and harm, both online and offline.
While each state is at a different stage in implementing the National Principles, the unified vision is clear – to create an Australia where every child is safe, supported, and able to thrive in diverse and unique environments. The journey towards a nationally consistent approach to child safety is ongoing, and the collective efforts of organisations, communities, and the government are essential to achieving this shared goal.
Championing Non-Mandatory Child Safe Initiatives
While some frameworks and legislation across Child Safe standards and Reportable Conduct Schemes are mandatory, many are not – or will require time to implement fully.
This is where organisational leadership and organisational cultures have a unique opportunity to shape the landscape, regardless of what has been mandated. Organisations that embody the values of Child Safe principles and are dedicated to reporting will likely become organisations of choice and significantly impact the creation of genuine Child Safe cultures.
If you require assistance in implementing the Child Safe Standards or National Principles in your organisation, please get in touch with our team today.
Safe Space legal has significant legal and holistic expertise to empower organisations to be child safe. Our services include:
- Audits and Gap analyses against the National Principles and Child Safe Standards
- Child Safety policy development
- Child Safety training tailored to the organisation
- Reportable Conduct investigations