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This website was developed when the 7 Standards and Principles were introduced in 2016, to assist faith communities in implementing the 7 Standards in their context.

All children have a right to be safe, including when they visit a church. Child Safe Standards have been mandatory in Victoria since 2016, so many organisations already have well-developed child safety frameworks. They are compulsory for a large range of organisations, including churches and groups who work or volunteer with children up to the age of 18.

The Standards are being strengthened in Victoria, to help protect children and young people from harm and abuse. On 1 July 2022, the Victorian Government (through the Commission for Children and Young People) introduced 11 Child Safe Standards. Organisations will need to transition to the new Standards. The Commission for Children and Young People has a range of resources to support you.

This website is therefore not compliant with the new Standards.
This website may be updated over the next 6 months to assist faith communities to be compliant in their activities that involve working with children and young people.

The changes to the Child Safe Standards have been made to support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for a Child Safe Organisation developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Organisations will need to get to know the new Standards, and document how they will implement the 11 Standards. Organisations required to comply with the Standards need to implement all aspects of the 11 Standards.

Upcoming workshops in Victoria (please contact vcc [@] vcc.org.au if you know of other training events in Victoria, run by faith communities and faith based organisations, or through CYYP).

The Commission has produced initial guidance to assist organisations to understand the new Standards:

The New Child Safe Standards Information Sheet is available in community languages – click here.

The Commission can be contacted to respond to questions or queries:

Telephone:  1300 782 978 or (03) 8601 5281

Email:  contact@ccyp.vic.gov.au

Visit the Commission’s website:  www.ccyp.vic.gov.au