At SDN, we are fully committed to upholding the National Child Safe Principles. The National principles were developed in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Although the National Principles are not mandatory, we are already implementing these across our work. 

The National Child Safe Principles:

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.
2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
5. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.
7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
9. Implementation of the National Child Safe Principles is regularly reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

In the ACT, the ACT Human Rights Commission will be appointed to oversee the Child Safe Standards scheme, and support organisations to build their capacity to provide child safe environments. The scheme will adopt the existing National Principles for Child Sare Organisations as the standards to be followed in the ACT. 

In NSW, organisations need to comply with the NSW Child Safe Standards, as well as the National Principles.

Watch the video below, featuring our SDN Erskineville centre, to learn more about the National Child Safe Principles. You’ll see and hear from one of our incredible Centre Directors, Ruth Wilson, as she talks about the importance of being a child safe organisation.