What are the Child Safe Standards?
Child-related organisations have a responsibility to provide safe environments for children and young people. The 10 Child Safe Standards provide a framework to help organisations ensure children are safe, respected, and protected from harm.
The Standards were established following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which identified 10 key elements necessary to create child safe environments.
These Standards are reflected in the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed in 2017 and endorsed by all Australian governments to support a nationally consistent approach to child safety.
Regulation of the Child Safe Standards and the National Principles
Each State and Territory Government is responsible for implementing legislation to embed and/or monitor compliance of the Child Safe Standards and/or the National Principles. We provide a summary of the regulatory frameworks in each State and Territory below (as of 3 June 2026):
- Australian Capital Territory: The Child Safe Standards are regulated under the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 (ACT). Swim Schools are expected to implement the National Principles through their policies, procedures, and practices, with monitoring and oversight by the Human Rights Commission.
- Victoria: The Victorian 11 Child Safe Standards are regulated by the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic). Swim Schools in Victoria are required, by law, to implement all of the 11 Standards, which includes an additional standard focusing on the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
- New South Wales: The Child Safe Standards are regulated under the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW). Swim Schools are required to embed the Standards through systems,
policies, and processes.
- South Australia: The National Principles are regulated under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA). Under the regulation, all organisations that develop child safe policies and procedures are required to align these policies and procedures with the National Principles. In SA, all organisations providing services to children and young people must lodge a compliance statement with the Department of Human Services.
- Queensland: Swim Schools are required to implement the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle (Cultural Safety) under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (QLD). Compliance with the Standards is regulated by the Queensland Family & Child Commission, refer to the website for further information Child Safe Standards | QFCC.
- Tasmania: Swim Schools are required to implement the 10 Child and Youth Safe Standards, in accordance with the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 (Tas).
What is happening in the other States and Territories?
Western Australia and the Northern Territory are in the process of developing a regulatory scheme to monitor compliance with the Child Safe Standards.
What are your Swim School’s obligations?
Swim Schools should now be implementing the Child Safe Standards to:
- Reduce the risk of harm to children and young people
- Strengthen the capacity to respond to child abuse incidents
- Build trust and strengthen relationships with customers and the community
- Comply with child safety legislation and government regulations.
Practical Steps to Implement the Child Safe Standards
Swim Schools should take a structured and proactive approach to implement the Child Safe Standards across the organisation.
1. Establish strong leadership and governance
Ensure child safety is a clear priority across your swim school. For example:
- Discuss child safety at team meetings
- Include child safety in staff performance discussions
- Display your commitment to child safety on your website and within your facility.
2. Empower children and young people
Create an environment where children feel safe, respected, and able to speak up. For example,
- Introduce instructors to children at the start of lessons
- Ask children for feedback about their swimming experience
- Use age-appropriate language during lessons
- Display child-friendly information about who children can talk to if t
3. Engage families and communities
Parents and families play an important role in strengthening child safe practices. For example:
- Communicate your child safe commitment during enrolment
- Provide clear information about supervision, photography, and collection procedures
- Encourage parents to raise concerns or provide feedback
4. Create an Inclusive Environment
Ensure child safe practices are inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of children and young people. For example:
- Make reasonable adjustments for children with disability
- Provide culturally respectful communication
- Ensure children feel welcomed and included
5. Implement safe recruitment and screening practices
Implement robust recruitment processes, including Working With Children Checks, reference checks, and structured interview processes that address child safety.
6. Reporting processes for child safety
Implement procedures for reporting, responding to, and managing child safety concerns, including compliance with legal reporting obligations. Make the reporting avenues available to staff, families and children.
7. Provide training and ongoing education
Provide staff with regular, role-specific training on child safety.
8. Identify and Manage Child Safety Risks
Regularly assess your facility, programs, and operations for child safety risks. Implement a Child Safe Risk Management Framework and complete Chid Safe Risk Assessments for programs.
9. Monitor, review, and continuously improve
Regularly evaluate child safe practices, seek feedback, and update systems to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness. For example:
- Seek feedback from staff, parents, and children
- Review incidents and near misses
- Conduct regular child safety audits
- Update practices when risks or issues are identified
10. Implement Child Safe Policies and Procedures
Develop and implement child safe policies and procedures that align with the Child Safe Standards and relevant child safety legislation, including but not limited to:
- Child Safe Policy
- Child Safe Code of Conduct
- Child Safe Complaints Handling Procedure
- Child Safe Recruitment Procedure
- Child Safe Risk Management Procedure
How can Child Safeguard help?
Child Safeguard is an award-winning firm that helps organisations prevent harm to children. Our experts advise organisations on how to build a Child Safe Organisation and how to implement
Best Practice in Child Safety. We provide consultancy, training, and legal services tailored to child-related organisations.
Child Safeguard helps Swim Schools implement the Child Safe Standards and National Principles.
If you would like to find out more about how Child Safeguard can help your organisation, get in touch by email monique.frendo@childsafeguard.com.au or visit our website https://www.childsafeguard.com.au/
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