This week is National Child Protection Week (NCPW).
NHMRC is reminding Administering Institutions and their Participating Institutions about the requirement of the Funding Agreement to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
About the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations sets out a nationally consistent approach to promoting a culture of child safety and wellbeing within organisations. The principles give effect to the child safe standards that were recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and brings attention to general child safety and wellbeing issues.
The Principles outline at a high level the 10 elements that are fundamental for making an organisation safe for children.
NHMRC expects all Administering Institutions who work with children and young people (regardless of whether they currently administer funds) to take steps to implement the National Principles including, amongst other things, having:
- policies, guidance or processes to support adherence to the National Principles
- appropriate risk management strategies
- working with children checks/approval for staff and volunteers working with children
- training and/or education for staff who work with children or young people, and
- child-focused processes to respond to complaints and concerns.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has a range of resources available to support institutions on its website here.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact governance@nhmrc.gov.au.