The Victorian Government has announced new Child Safe Standards that will come into effect on 1 July 2022.

What you need to know

• New Child Safe Standards will come into effect on 1 July 2022.
• Ten of the 11 new standards mirror the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• One additional standard is specifically designed to protect the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and young people.
• Providers should consider what actions are needed to meet the new standards by 1 July 2022.

The 11 new standards will replace the seven standards currently operating in Victoria and will outline minimum requirements and actions organisations must take to keep children and young people safe.

The changes support greater national consistency, with ten of the new standards mirroring the ten 'National Principles for Child Safe Organisations'. The new Victorian Standards will also include an eleventh standard that requires organisations to establish culturally safe environments for Aboriginal children and young people.

Key changes include new requirements:

• to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
• for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
• to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
• for greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.

In some areas, organisations will need to change or add to their current child safety policy, practices and organisational culture in order to meet the new standards. It is recommended that providers become familiar with the new Standards and prepare to meet these by 1 July 2022.