All government schools across Victoria are required to be a Child Safe organisation to keep children safe from harm and abuse. This is set out by the Ministerial Order 1359 that provides the framework for child safety in schools. To ensure the safety of students, all schools must adhere to the Child Safe Standards.
The Child Safe Standards aim to:
Child Safe Standards work by:
As of July 1, new Child Safe Standards are in place to strengthen the culture of child safety and protect children from harm and abuse. As part of the consultation process, we are required to notify the school community that we are updating our school policies to adhere to the new Child Safe Standards.
Under Victorian law, all registered teachers, school principals, early childhood educators, youth workers, out-of-school-hours care staff, medical professionals, nurses, police officers, and psychologists are mandatory reporters. This applies across all school settings, government, Catholic, and independent, and includes Department of Education and Training (DET) and non-DET staff.
Mandatory reporters are legally required to report any incident, disclosure, or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or harm, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, or neglect. These responsibilities apply regardless of when or where the concern arises.
Mandatory reporting is not about making judgments or accusations. It is a vital safeguard that ensures concerns are passed on to the appropriate authorities who are trained to investigate and support families when needed. Our shared goal is to protect the rights, safety, and wellbeing of every child and, wherever possible, to work in respectful partnership with families.
Importantly, failure to report a known or suspected incident of abuse is a criminal offence under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).
Additionally, all adults in Victoria, regardless of their profession, have a legal obligation under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) to act if they know or suspect that a child is being sexually abused. This includes the Failure to Disclose and Failure to Protect offences, which apply beyond the scope of mandatory reporting.
Thank you for your commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for every child. If you have any questions about these responsibilities or the reporting process, please do not hesitate to seek support or clarification.
Information for Volunteers:
Information for families:
