World Wide Swim School, in association with Child Safeguard, are proud to implement a child-safe training program, The Child Safe Training Hub. It focuses on essential compliance and safety standards to children’s health and well-being. This is succeeded by the Royal Commission‘s inquiry into institutional responses to child abuse. It recommends that organisations implement the 10 child safe standards to become child safe organisations.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the Child Safe Standards as the National Principles on Child Safe Organisations in February 2019. States and Territories are in the process of adopting legislation making it compulsory for organisations to implement the standards. Swim Schools are required to start taking actions to comply with the standards. In Victoria, it is already mandatory to comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
The Child Safe Standards
The Royal Commission identified 10 critical elements that are necessary to create a safe environment for children and young people. These elements became the 10 Child Safe Standards. They articulate the essential elements of a Child Safe Organisation.
In its Final Report, the Royal Commission made a key recommendation, that all child-related organisations should implement the 10 Child Safe Standards.
Swim Schools in Australia should now be implementing the standards to:
- Reduce the risk of harm to children and young people.
- Strengthen the capacity to respond to child abuse incidents.
- Reduce potential future costs and liability associated with child abuse incidents.
- Be ready for upcoming Government regulation.
Child Safe Policy
Standard 10 requires organisations to implement a Child Safe Policy, which is an essential element to becoming a Child Safe Organisation. Swim Schools in Australia should have a Child Safe Policy to ensure they are fostering a safe environment for children. Ultimately, swim schools need to be complying with the standards.
The Child Safe Policy forms a critical element of Swim School’s Child Safe Framework. It applies to all staff, children, young people, and their families. It documents how Swim Schools create and maintain a child safe environment.
The Child Safe Policy ensures that organisations must always comply with the Child Safe Standards, and that any breaches are handled with efficiency.
Safeguarding Children and Young People in your Swim School
Child Safeguard, a multi-award-winning firm, is dedicated to assisting child-related organisations prevent harm to children. Child Safeguard provides legal, training, and consulting services to organisations. It helps them build a Child Safe Organisation and implement Best Practice in Child Safety.
You can learn more about Child Safeguard by watching this video.
World Wide Swim School and Child Safeguard formed a partnership to implement the Aquatics Industry Child Safe Training, which led to the introduction of an online training platform, the Child Safe Training Hub. The Hub provides e-learning Modules and resources to simplify and streamline information. It provides guidance on how to comply with the 10 Child Safe Standards. And provides all the necessary tools to draft a comprehensive Child Safe Policy.
For additional insight into the Child Safe Training Hub, try our Complimentary training module.