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Victoria Child Safe Standards

Introduction

The Child Safe Standards are still established under Victorian law (Child Wellbeing and Safety Act), but regulation is now shared across sector-specific regulators.
The Social Services Regulator now oversees regulatory compliance for many social services, and other regulators oversee standards for sectors such as education and health.

The Commission and other Child Safe Standards regulators

The Standards are enforced by sector-specific regulators (“co-regulators”). CCYP remains a regulator for certain organisations, but other regulators now enforce the Standards for different sectors.

For more information to help organisations understand the different regulators of the Child Safe Standards, please visit https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/regulating-the-standards/

How ChildSafe Supports VIC Organisations

Organisations in Victoria often need more than just knowing what is required — they need help understanding how to make it happen. ChildSafe Australia offers:

  • Template policies, codes of conduct, and risk‑management tools aligned with CCYP’s minimum requirements.
  • Training and workshops targeted at staff, leadership, and boards to build capacity in implementing the 11 Standards and responding to CCYP oversight.
  • Audit and review services to assess your current compliance, map gaps against CCYP’s indicators, and build clear action plans.
  • Support for community involvement, cultural safety, and systems change to ensure your organisation not only complies but lives up to the spirit of the Standards.

Reportable Conduct Scheme in Victoria

Victoria’s Reportable Conduct Scheme, overseen by the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP), requires organisations to notify CCYP and investigate allegations of misconduct or abuse involving workers or volunteers. This applies where the behaviour is one of five categories: sexual offences, sexual misconduct, physical violence, behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm, or significant neglect. 

A key part of the Scheme is the timing and responsibility: once the head of an organisation becomes aware of a reportable allegation, they must notify CCYP within three days. Then, detailed information and updates must be submitted within 30 days. Organisations must also ensure investigations are carried out, unless there is involvement of Victoria Police and clearance is required. 

The Scheme’s coverage has expanded recently (as of 1 July 2024), so 3rd party workers are included: labour-hire workers, secondees, directors, individual business owners engaging staff, etc. Allegations can also be made against former workers, in some cases.

Who the Scheme Applies To

The Reportable Conduct Scheme applies to a wide range of organisations that provide services or activities for children. These include:

  • Education providers – government and non-government schools, kindergartens, early learning centres, and other approved education and care services.
  • Health and disability services – disability service providers, in-patient health services, hospitals, and counselling or treatment providers.
  • Religious bodies – churches and faith-based organisations.
  • Residential and care services – out-of-home care agencies, youth justice and residential facilities, foster and kinship care providers.
  • Youth and community organisations – including groups that run overnight camps, sporting associations, and cultural or recreational clubs.

Children and Young People (CCYP) when reportable allegations arise, and to have systems in place to investigate and respond appropriately. A full list of organisations can be seen on the CCYP website

How the Scheme Relates to the Child Safe Standards

The Reportable Conduct Scheme complements the Victorian Child Safe Standards. While the Standards set out organisational policies, culture, prevention and ongoing review mechanisms, the Scheme is focussed on individual allegations of misconduct and the accountability process when things go wrong. Organisations that are compliant with the Standards are better placed to meet their obligations under the Scheme, but having the Standards alone is not enough.

How ChildSafe Australia Can Assist with Reportable Conduct

ChildSafe can support organisations in Victoria to effectively respond to the requirements of the Reportable Conduct Scheme by:

  • Providing guidance and training for organisation heads, managers and staff on recognising reportable conduct, thresholds, legal obligations, and timelines.
  • Assisting with development of internal policies and investigation frameworks aligned with CCYP’s obligations (e.g. ensuring the 3-day and 30-day notification requirements are understood and met).
  • Offering audits and reviews of current systems to identify gaps between existing practices and what is required under the Scheme (as well as the Standards).
  • Supporting organisations in managing investigations, including preparing investigation plans, interviewing children and young people in safe and sensitive ways, reporting investigation findings, and implementing corrective or protective actions.

Review the official requirements on the CCYP website