Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
1. Statement of commitment to child safety
AB First Aid is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in the best interests of children and keeping them safe from harm. AB First Aid regards its child-protection responsibilities with the utmost importance and is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child-protection laws and the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
AB First Aid delivers first aid and related accredited training to adult participants across a range of client settings, including schools, childcare and early learning centres, workplaces and community organisations. While our training is delivered to adults, our personnel attend client premises where children and young people are present, including settings caring for very young children. We recognise that this brings our personnel into environments where the safety and wellbeing of children must be actively protected, and we hold ourselves fully accountable to the Child Safe Standards accordingly, wherever we work.
We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the safety of children with disability, and the safety of all children regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.
2. Purpose and scope
This Policy sets out how AB First Aid creates and maintains a child-safe organisation in line with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards. It describes the commitments, responsibilities and practices that all AB First Aid personnel must follow.
This Policy applies to everyone engaged by AB First Aid in the delivery of services connected to Victorian schools, including employees, contracted trainers and assessors, administrative staff, volunteers, and personnel operating under our third party arrangement with Allens Training (RTO). It should be read together with the AB First Aid Child Safe Code of Conduct, which forms part of this Policy framework.
3. Regulatory and legislative context
The Victorian Child Safe Standards are compulsory minimum standards for organisations that provide services or facilities for children, or whose staff and personnel are likely to come into contact with children. From 2025 the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme transitioned from the Commission for Children and Young People to the Social Services Regulator, which is now the primary regulator of the Standards for most organisations. AB First Aid monitors regulator guidance and updates this Policy to reflect current requirements.
Key legislation and instruments that inform this Policy include:
- Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) — establishes the Child Safe Standards
- Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic) — Working with Children Checks
- Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Safe Standards Compliance and Enforcement) Act and associated Ministerial Order
- Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic) — mandatory reporting
- Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) — including the failure to disclose and failure to protect offences and grooming offence
- The Reportable Conduct Scheme (administered by the Social Services Regulator)
4. Key definitions
- Child / young person: any person under 18 years of age.
- Child abuse: includes sexual offences, sexual misconduct, physical violence, serious emotional or psychological harm, serious neglect, and grooming.
- Personnel: all employees, trainers, assessors, contractors, sub-contractors and volunteers engaged by AB First Aid.
- Child-safe environment: an environment in which children are protected from abuse and harm and in which their safety, participation, empowerment and wellbeing are actively promoted.
5. How AB First Aid meets the 11 Child Safe Standards
The following section sets out each of the 11 Child Safe Standards and the practical measures AB First Aid applies to meet it within our operating context.
Standard 1
Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
- AB First Aid affirms the cultural rights of Aboriginal children and young people and expects all personnel to demonstrate respect for Aboriginal cultures on any school site.
- Racism is not tolerated. Any incident of racism involving a child is addressed and reported in line with this Policy.
- Personnel are briefed to respect and follow the cultural safety practices of each school they attend, including any Acknowledgement or Welcome to Country protocols and school-specific cultural guidance.
Standard 2
Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
- Leadership publicly commits to child safety through this Policy and the Child Safe Code of Conduct, which are endorsed by the AB First Aid governing body.
- A Designated Child Safety Officer is appointed and resourced as the central contact for child-safety matters.
- Child safety is a standing item in management review and is included in staff induction and contractor onboarding.
- This Policy and the Code of Conduct are made publicly available and provided to all personnel and to clients on request.
Standard 3
Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- Our personnel are instructed to treat any interaction with a child respectfully, to listen to children, and to take any concern raised by a child seriously.
- Personnel support the participation and empowerment initiatives of the sites they attend and do not undermine a client’s child-voice practices.
- Information about how to raise a concern is made available in child-accessible language via our clients where relevant.
Standard 4
Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- This Policy and the Code of Conduct are publicly accessible so that our clients and their communities can understand our commitment to child safety.
- AB First Aid engages openly and transparently with clients and their communities about our child-safe practices and welcomes feedback.
Standard 5
Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
- AB First Aid pays particular attention to the safety of Aboriginal children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disability, children unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children.
- Personnel are expected to be attentive and responsive to the diverse circumstances and needs of children they may encounter on client sites.
Standard 6
People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
- All personnel who attend client premises must hold a current, valid Employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) and provide evidence before commencing work; WWCC currency is monitored and recorded.
- Recruitment and engagement include child-safety screening, reference checks and verification of qualifications appropriate to the role.
- The requirements of the Child Safe Code of Conduct are made a condition of engagement for all employees and contractors, including those engaged under the Allens Training auspicing arrangement.
- Ongoing supervision and support reinforce child-safe practice.
Standard 7
Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.
- AB First Aid maintains a clear complaints and concerns procedure (see Section 7) that is accessible, responsive and takes all concerns about child safety seriously.
- Personnel know how to respond to and report a disclosure, allegation or concern, including obligations under mandatory reporting and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
- Complaints are handled fairly, confidentially where appropriate, and without fear of retribution for those who raise them.
Standard 8
Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- All personnel complete child-safety induction covering this Policy, the Code of Conduct, recognising indicators of abuse, and reporting obligations.
- Refresher training is provided at least annually and whenever this Policy is materially updated.
- The Designated Child Safety Officer maintains up-to-date knowledge of regulator guidance and cascades relevant changes to personnel.
Standard 9
Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- When on client premises, personnel comply with the client’s site-access, sign-in, visitor and supervision arrangements at all times.
- Personnel do not seek to be alone with a child and avoid unnecessary or unsupervised contact with children.
- In online and record-keeping environments, participant and client data is handled securely. Personnel do not photograph or record children.
Standard 10
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
- This Policy and the Code of Conduct are reviewed at least every 12 months, and after any significant incident or relevant legislative change.
- AB First Aid analyses complaints, concerns and incidents to identify and address any systemic issues, and records improvements made.
- Compliance with the Child Safe Standards is reported to leadership as part of governance review.
Standard 11
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
- AB First Aid documents its child-safe approach through this Policy, the Child Safe Code of Conduct, and supporting procedures for reporting, recruitment/screening and record-keeping.
- These documents are practical, understood by personnel, and are embedded in day-to-day practice and enforced.
6. Roles and responsibilities
6.1 Governing body / leadership
- Endorse and champion this Policy and the Code of Conduct, and allocate resources to child safety.
- Ensure systems are in place to prevent, identify and respond to child abuse and harm.
6.2 Designated Child Safety Officer
- Act as the central point of contact for child-safety matters within AB First Aid.
- Coordinate reporting to authorities, support personnel, and maintain child-safety records.
- Keep up to date with regulator requirements and drive continuous improvement.
6.3 All personnel
- Comply with this Policy and the Child Safe Code of Conduct at all times.
- Hold a valid WWCC and comply with each client’s site requirements.
- Recognise, respond to and report any concern, disclosure or allegation of child abuse or harm.
7. Reporting and responding to concerns
AB First Aid takes all concerns about the safety of a child seriously. Any personnel who form a reasonable belief that a child is at risk of, or has been subject to, abuse or harm must act immediately.
7.2 Reporting pathways
- Client: report concerns to the client’s management or child-safety contact in line with the client’s procedures.
- AB First Aid: report to the Designated Child Safety Officer, who records the matter and coordinates any further action.
- Mandatory reporting: where a legal obligation to report to Child Protection or Victoria Police applies, that obligation is met without delay. Under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), any adult who forms a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed against a child under 16 must disclose that information to Victoria Police unless they have a reasonable excuse.
- Reportable Conduct Scheme: allegations of reportable conduct involving AB First Aid personnel are notified to the Social Services Regulator in accordance with the Scheme.
7.3 Protection for those who report
AB First Aid supports anyone who raises a genuine concern and will not tolerate any victimisation or retribution against a person for reporting in good faith.
8. Records, privacy and information handling
AB First Aid keeps accurate, confidential records of child-safety concerns, reports and actions taken. Personal information about children and about participants is collected, used, stored and disclosed in accordance with applicable privacy laws and our contractual obligations, including any requirement that data connected to Victorian schools be handled onshore. Records relating to allegations of abuse are retained in line with applicable retention requirements.
9. Related documents
- AB First Aid Child Safe Code of Conduct
- AB First Aid recruitment, screening and WWCC verification procedure
- AB First Aid privacy and data-handling procedure
- Host school child-safety policies and site-access requirements
10. Review
This Policy will be reviewed at least annually and following any significant incident, change in legislation or regulator guidance, or change in AB First Aid’s operations. Feedback on this Policy can be directed to the Designated Child Safety Officer at brendan@abfirstaid.com.au.