This page lists resources for organisations, whether they are new to learning about their compliance obligations, or more advanced. If you have any feedback, we’d love to hear it via contact@oir.tas.gov.au.
Child and Youth Safe Standards and Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety compliance guidance.
The OIR is currently updating the Interim Compliance Guidance for organisations. Each Child and Youth Safe Standard is being released individually, accompanied by an interactive webinar.
You can expect the release of new Standards every 4-6 weeks.
| Child and Youth Safe Standard | Updated compliance guidance | Webinar recording | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 1: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture. | Putting Standard 1 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 2: Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously. | Putting Standard 2 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 3: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing. | Putting Standard 3 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice. | Putting Standard 4 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | Interactive Child and Youth Safe Standard 4 webinar | |
| Standard 5: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. | Putting Standard 5 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | Coming soon | |
| Standard 6: Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused. | Putting Standard 6 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 7: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training. | Putting Standard 7 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 8: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed. | Putting Standard 8 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 9: Implementation of the Child and Youth Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved | Putting Standard 9 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
| Standard 10: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people | Putting Standard 10 into practice in your organisation compliance guidance | ||
Reportable Conduct Scheme compliance guidance
The Reportable Conduct Scheme covers sensitive topics, including child harm and abuse. We encourage anyone affected by, or with concerns about, child sexual abuse or other types of child abuse to access advice and support on our Wellbeing and support services page.
Our Reportable Conduct Scheme resources provide an introduction to the Reportable Conduct Scheme. They reference key elements of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023. They do not fully detail the legislation and is not legal advice.
We suggest starting with Understanding the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
For the complete set of resources, see the Reportable Conduct Scheme Practice Workbook.
There are 9 modules you can work through at your own pace,
- Understanding the Reportable Conduct Scheme
- Identifying reportable conduct
- Supporting children and young people to raise concerns
- Identifying and managing immediate risks
- Identifying and managing conflicts of interest
- Child-centred practices during investigations
- Upholding procedural fairness
- Weighing evidence and determining outcomes
- Learning and improving from investigations
Investigation resources
Review and identify your most urgent risks to focus on
This workbook is to help you reflect on where your organisation is now, and where you want to go next with your child-safe practices.
New practical resources
Putting Standard 6 into practice in your organisation
This resource includes practical guidance and activities for organisations, such as:
- Reflection tool: Does your organisation have a child-centres complaints culture?
- Step-by-step guide: Nine key principles every adult should know when responding to a disclosure
Putting Standard 7 into practice in your organisation
This resource includes practical guidance and activities for organisations, such as:
- Reflection tool: Signs you need to update and review your organisation's training program
- Step-by-step guide: How to Plan a Child Safety Training Session
I want to know more about the Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety.
If you want to know more about the Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety, we recommend:
- Aboriginal Cultural Safety Short Guide: (PDF, 951.6 KB)This short guide explains what cultural safety is, along with key concepts like truth telling, and asks reflective questions to organisations about how they can embed the Universal Principle.
I am a parent or carer
Use this checklist when you visit a child-related organisation to find out how safe it is for your child.
We recognise that the Child Safe Checklist resource is not currently accessible. If you require an accessible copy, please contact OIR engagement@oir.tas.gov.au and we will work to provide you with an accessible copy within 10 business days.
I learn better via in-person or online workshops than written materials.
If you want practical compliance ideas shared in-person or via online workshops, we recommend:
- Checking out our upcoming or on-demand education opportunities via our events page.
- Requesting an education session directly via our Education Session Request Form.
I want things I can print and display in my organisation.
If you want printable materials to put up in your organisation, we recommend:
- A3 posters:
I want to learn about the legislative basis and establishment of this work.
If you want to know about the law underpinning our work, and the history of it, we recommend:
- The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023: The Act that sets out the OIR’s powers and functions.
- Introducing Tasmania's Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework (PDF, 673.0 KB): This document steps through the main elements of the Framework and is designed to be a useful starting point for organisations.
- Easy Read information sheet (PDF, 716.9 KB): This fact sheet summarises key elements of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023.
I want resources in languages other than English.
Below are resources on the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework including information on the Child and Youth Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme that have been translated by NAATI certified translators.
These information sheets were commissioned by the Department of Justice, and speak to the establishment of the Framework.
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Amharic (PDF, 605.8 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Arabic (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Burmese (PDF, 497.4 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Chin Hakka (PDF, 231.0 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Chinese (Simplified) (PDF, 561.4 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Chinese (Traditional) (PDF, 691.6 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Dari (PDF, 688.6 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Farsi (PDF, 625.9 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Hindi (PDF, 224.2 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Karen (PDF, 216.8 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Nepali (PDF, 204.1 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Oromo (PDF, 158.1 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Punjabi (PDF, 229.8 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Spanish (PDF, 205.8 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Swahili (PDF, 331.7 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Tigrinya (PDF, 270.6 KB)
- Information sheet - Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - Urdu. (PDF, 288.8 KB)
Key terms and frequently asked questions
On this page are a list of key terms and definitions related to the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework and answers to frequently asked questions.
Key terms
Organisations - For the purposes of the Framework, an organisation is defined as an entity under the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023. An 'organisation' also means sole traders that engage with children and young people. The Act defines organisations as providing services specifically for children or providing facilities specifically for use by children who are under the supervision of the entity.
Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 (The Act) - The Act to establish the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework.
Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework - The Framework is represented by the Child and Youth Safe Standards, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, the Independent Regulator and Information sharing provisions.
Child and Youth Safe Standards - Ten principles that organisations must put into practice when they engage with children and young people. In putting the Child and Youth Safe Standards into practice, organisations must also give effect to a Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety.
Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety - The Universal Principle applies to all 10 Standards. The Universal Principle says organisations must provide an environment that ensures that the right to Cultural Safety of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children is respected.
Reportable Conduct Scheme - A compulsory scheme that requires leaders of certain organisations to report — and investigate — concerns about conduct related to child abuse involving a worker to an independent regulator.
Independent Regulator - An independent regulatory body that will oversee the Framework, and make sure organisations have the support, advice, and education they need to do the right thing.
Information sharing provisions - Specific rules written into the law that mean leaders of organisations covered by the Framework are permitted to share personal information in certain circumstances.
Child - a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
Young person (youth) - a person who has attained the age of 16 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
Deputy Regulator - a person who assists the Independent Regulator and can undertake the functions or powers of the Independent Regulator in times of vacancy.
Organisation - An entity as described under Section 5 of the Act.
Entity - a relevant body that provides services specifically for children or provides facilities specifically for use by children who are under the supervision of the entity.
Head of entity/organisation - this can be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the entity (however titled or described), if there is no CEO, the principal officer of the entity. If there is neither, this can be someone in the entity who is nominated by the entity as its head and approved by the Independent Regulator. For a government agency, this is the head of Agency within the meaning of the State Service Act 2000 , or the delegate of the Head of Agency. This can also be someone as prescribed in the the regulations of the Act.
Reportable allegation - information that leads a person to form a reasonable suspicion that a worker of an entity has committed reportable conduct, whether or not the alleged reportable conduct occurred within the course of the worker's duties in respect of the entity, and regardless of whether the alleged reportable conduct occurred before the commencement of the Act.
Reportable conduct - emotional or psychological harm, neglect, physical violence, a relevant offence, sexual misconduct, sexual offence, as described in the Act.
Reportable conviction - a conviction for an offence that involves reportable conduct, regardless of whether the conduct or conviction occurred before the commencement of the Act.
Worker - paid employee, volunteer, contractor or other meaning as described in section 8 of the Act
Independent investigator - an independent body or person that has appropriate qualifications, training, or experience, to investigate reportable allegations or reportable convictions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework only about child sexual abuse in organisational settings?
- Even though the idea for the Framework came out of the Royal Commission (which focused on child sexual abuse), the Framework in practice aims to address all forms of harm to children and young people.
Can organisations choose if they want to follow the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework or not?
- Specific organisations are required by the law to comply with the Framework. However, all Tasmanian organisations should strive to be safe for children and young people.
Is there an accreditation or certification scheme linked to the The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework?
- The Framework is not an accreditation scheme. The point of the Framework is for organisations to be continuously working to be child and youth safe.
Does the leader of an organisation have to notify the Independent Regulator of any reportable conduct once becoming aware of it, even if the alleged conduct is historical in nature?
- If reportable conduct happened a week ago or multiple years ago the leader of the organisation must report it to the Independent Regulator when they become aware. For example, a leader of an organisation may become aware of historical reportable conduct after undergoing training to identify types of reportable conduct.
Making a report to the Independent Regulator under the Reportable Conduct Scheme means the organisation will have to discipline or let go a worker.
- The fact of reporting to the Independent Regulator will not compel an organisation to take a predetermined action, such as letting someone go. The organisation must report all reportable conduct to the Independent Regulator, undertake an investigation, and take suitable action.
Learn more about:
Sign up to the OIR’s mailing list to receive the OIR latest newsletter and news
Several of the resources listed on this page were developed by the Department of Justice, who led the establishment of the Framework.
Seeking help?
We encourage anyone affected by, or with concerns about, child sexual abuse or other types of child abuse to access advice and support on our Wellbeing and support services page.