About Us
ChildSafe Limited exists to serve organisations working with children and young people, with the goal of improved child safety. The funds we receive from our resources and web system are applied solely to this goal.
While our resources aresuitable for all types of organisations, we focus in particular at present on the needs of churches (see www.churchsafe.org.au). We are an initiative of Scripture Union Australia, who conceived and developed ChildSafe as an internal project before creating ChildSafe Limited as a separate entity in 2007.
Why set up ChildSafe?
Children and young people deserve the best endeavours of an organisation towards their safety. This involves more than good intentions, or the assumption that harmful incidents will not happen. Organisations working with children are under increased community scrutiny in relation to screening workers, risk management and the quality of care they offer.
Many organisations do not currently have adequate systems in place to ensure that sound policies are translated into practice. Governments are increasingly legislating standards and requirements for organisations working with children. The availability and affordability of insurance is an issue for community organisations working with children. Insurers are rightly expecting organisations to have effective risk management processes in place to minimise claims.
Our Structure
ChildSafe Limited is a Public Company limited by guarantee. The company has a sole member, Scripture Union Australia. We have applied to and been entered on the Register of Harm Prevention Charitable Institutions, maintained by the Australian Government Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. We are endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient, for funds provided to the ChildSafe Foundation Fund.
Governance funtions are fulfiled by our Board of Directors, who are drawn from various states of Australia. The CEO manages operational affairs, with Project Officer staff and a Webmaster assisting clients. We engage suitable contractors to assist us with financial management, compliance, professional and legal advice, web development, and writing and production for our resources.
Regional Partners
In New Zealand, the ChildSafe materials, systems and service are provided by the SafeHere Trust (established by Scripture Union New Zealand). Click here for the New Zealand site.
Download the 2008 Annual Report for ChildSafe Limited
(Chairs Report and CEOs report - Financial statements not included)
Our Objectives
The objective of ChildSafe Limited, as defined in its constitution, is...
"to be a harm prevention charity for the promotion of the prevention and control of behaviour that is harmful or abusive to children and young people when in the care of an organisation."
To achieve this objective, our constitution specifies that ChildSafe Limited will:
- Resource and training the staff and volunteers of organisations in the implementation of quality safety management at the core of their organisation.
- Facilitate collaboration between organisations in the sharing of systems for the safety and care of children and young people, reducing duplication of effort and creating more efficient use of community resources.
- Create a Public Fund to be applied to the Object of the Company.