Child Protection is Everyone’s Business

Mel James, CEO - Social Care Solutions

October 2025 will be here before you know it, and with it will come the new Queensland Child Safe Standards. To be a Child Safe Organisation, you must be able to evidence you are one that creates a culture, adopts strategies and takes proactive steps to not only prevent harm to children and young people but also promote child wellbeing. The Child Safe Standards will come into effect from October 2025 with many organisations not aware that they will fall under the remit of these new Standards.

At first glance, it’s simple to assume which organisations will fall in scope; of course, it’s those working with children and young people as their clients. But upon closer review, the new Standards will require compliance by many other businesses as well. Hospitals, health services, transport services, and cultural, sporting and recreational services are all included.

Many businesses will not realise they are captured by the Child Safe Organisations Act. Yet they will have to be able to speak to how their organisation is child safe and child wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance, policy and culture. They’ll need to evidence how children are informed of their rights and can participate in decision making when it affects them. Staff must not only be suitable (with appropriate Blue Card checks) but they must be trained and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing in every day practice. Businesses must be able to evidence that staff (and volunteers) are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe.

Social Care Solutions is a child protection consultancy providing services to the education, healthcare and human services sectors across Australia, New Zealand and other countries across the globe. Built in 2009 due to a gap in high quality assessments in the foster and kinship care space, SCS has grown to have a strong presence in the child protection and child safeguarding space, recognised as a thought-leader and innovator!

Helping organisations implement, monitor and review their Child Safe Organisation commitments is at the core of what we do… because we truly believe child protection is everyone’s business. Connect with us via www.socialcaresolutions.com.au for the (free) downloadable Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a Child Safe Organisation or reach out to us via admin@socialcaresolutions.com.au to discuss further with one of our safeguarding experts.