7.8 Consistent with Child Safe Standard 1: Child safety is embedded in Accept The National Principles broadly reflect this institutional leadership, governance and culture, institutions should recommendation. have a clear code of conduct that: The Australian Government will develop a resource to outlines behaviours towards children that the institution assist organisations to embed child safety in considers unacceptable, including concerning conduct, organisational leadership, governance and code of misconduct or criminal conduct conduct in the second half of 2018. includes a specific requirement to report any concerns, All Australian Government agencies are required to breaches or suspected breaches of the code to a person the National Principles within 12 months of responsible for handling complaints in the institution or to an endorsement. external authority when required by law and/or the institution’s complaint handling policy outlines the protections available to individuals who make complaints or reports in good to any institution engaging in child-related work (see Recommendation 7.6 on reporter protections). 7.9 State and territory governments should establish nationally consistent Noted This recommendation is a matter for state and territory legislative schemes (reportable conduct schemes), based on the governments. approach adopted in New South Wales, which oblige heads of institutions to notify an oversight body of any reportable allegation, conduct or conviction involving any of the institution’s employees. 7.10 Reportable conduct schemes should provide for: Noted This recommendation is a matter for state and territory governments. an independent oversight body obligatory reporting by of institutions The Australian Government is assessing whether relevant a definition of reportable conduct that covers any sexual state and territory law applies effectively to the offence, or sexual misconduct, committed against, with, or in Commonwealth. the presence of, a a definition of reportable conduct that includes the historical conduct of a current employee
7.8 Consistent with Child Safe Standard 1: Child safety is embedded in institutional leadership, governance and culture, institutions should have a clear code of conduct that: outlines behaviours towards children that the institution considers unacceptable, including concerning conduct, misconduct or criminal conduct includes a specific requirement to report any concerns, breaches or suspected breaches of the code to a person responsible for handling complaints in the institution or to an external authority when required by law and/or the institution’s complaint handling policy outlines the protections available to individuals who make complaints or reports in good to any institution engaging in child-related work (see Recommendation 7.6 on reporter protections). Accept The National Principles broadly reflect this recommendation. The Australian Government will develop a resource to assist organisations to embed child safety in organisational leadership, governance and code of conduct in the second half of 2018. All Australian Government agencies are required to the National Principles within 12 months of endorsement. 7.9 State and territory governments should establish nationally consistent legislative schemes (reportable conduct schemes), based on the approach adopted in New South Wales, which oblige heads of institutions to notify an oversight body of any reportable allegation, conduct or conviction involving any of the institution’s employees. Noted This recommendation is a matter for state and territory governments. 7.10 Reportable conduct schemes should provide for: an independent oversight body obligatory reporting by of institutions a definition of reportable conduct that covers any sexual offence, or sexual misconduct, committed against, with, or in the presence of, a a definition of reportable conduct that includes the historical conduct of a current employee Noted This recommendation is a matter for state and territory governments. The Australian Government is assessing whether relevant state and territory law applies effectively to the Commonwealth.
part-one-response.docx