Council's Child Safe Responsibilities

Child Safe Responsibilities

At Whitehorse, we are committed to being more than compliant - we aim to create a culture where children and young people are safe, respected, empowered and heard.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards set out 11 minimum standards that organisations must meet to create and maintain child safe environments.

Whitehorse is committed to implementing and strengthening all standards across our services, programs and facilities.

About the Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards were first introduced in 2016 and strengthened in July 2022 to further protect children and young people.

They require organisations to:

  • Promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
  • Prevent child abuse and harm
  • Respond appropriately to concerns, complaints and allegations
  • Involve children and young people in decisions that affect them

Supporting all children and young people

While all children deserve to feel safe, some may experience additional vulnerability.

We are committed to creating inclusive and culturally safe environments for:

  • Children with disability
  • Children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
  • Children who cannot live at home
  • Children and young people who are LGBTQIA+
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Child Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility.

This includes:

  • Whitehorse staff and volunteers
  • Contractors and suppliers
  • Community groups and hirers
  • Sporting clubs and partner organisations

We expect everyone who works with us or uses our facilities to help create safe, respectful and welcoming environments.

Safe Activities and Environments

All activities, programs and services delivered by Whitehorse are designed to be child safe.

We take proactive steps to identify and manage risks by undertaking regular risk assessments and putting appropriate safety measures in place.

Our priority is to ensure that all children and young people attending our services, programs and facilities feel safe, supported and protected from harm.

We are committed to creating environments where there are no avoidable risks or hazards, and where children and young people can participate with confidence.