Child safety obligations for grants
Child safe obligations
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse(Opens in a new tab/window) highlighted the need for:
- a national response to child safety
- organisations to provide an environment where children feel (and are) safe, protected and respected.
In response to the findings, the Australian Government introduced the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework(Opens in a new tab/window). This includes a section (1.4) on how Commonwealth Agencies apply child safe obligations to Commonwealth funded third parties(Opens in a new tab/window) in grant arrangements.
The child safe obligations applied to grantees are included in the Supplementary Terms of a grant agreement. There are 2 clauses available, with different requirements depending on the level of interaction with children expected in the delivery of the activity.
Annual child safe statement of compliance
Grantees are required to submit a child safe statement of compliance each year for each activity funded by our department. The statement confirms that, in delivering the activity, grantees are compliant with the child safe clauses.
A template for this statement will be provided by the department in early March and must be submitted by 31 March. This statement is retrospective. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December of the previous calendar year.
Failure to submit the statement means grantees are considered non-compliant. This may result in payments being withheld, termination of your agreement, or affect future applications for our funding.
Resources to support compliance
National Office for Child Safety
The National Office for Child Safety website has resources and information to assist grantees to implement, develop and meet their child safe obligations.
- National Principles for Child Safe Organisations(Opens in a new tab/window).
- Child Safety Risk Management Resources(Opens in a new tab/window) includes guides and templates to support grantees risk assessment.
- Section 3.1 in the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework(Opens in a new tab/window) lists relevant state and territory legislation and policy.
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission website has:
- 11 free e-learning units(Opens in a new tab/window) on the National Principles
- an introductory self-assessment tool(Opens in a new tab/window) for child safe organisations.
Example Statements of Compliance
Statement for CB9 with description - Sample
Copies of the Child Safe Clauses
Additional resources
Task Card - Child Safety Compliance - how to complete online form
Frequently Asked Questions for grantees
If you need help
For technical assistance with accessing, using or submitting the Statement of Compliance template, contact the Community Grants Hub Helpdesk on 1800 020 283 (select option 5).
For any other queries, email your Funding Arrangement Manager.