Statement of Commitment

All children and young people have the right to feel and be safe. Keeping children and young people safe is everyone’s responsibility.

The Department is committed to improving the way we work with vulnerable people, with a specific focus on children and young people. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable, as they are dependent on adults to care for them, meet their basic needs, and make decisions for them. Adults are in positions of trust, and are responsible for the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of children and young people. The Department has an opportunity to recognise the signs of harm to children and young people and respond accordingly, whether working directly with them or with their parents or caregivers.

The Department recognises that while all children and young people are vulnerable, some face additional risk of harm. The Department is committed to meeting the diverse needs and ensuring the cultural safety of:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
• children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
• children and young people who are unable to live at home
• children and young people with disability
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual and questioning (LGBTIQA+) children and young people.

The Department will put in place strategies and actions to promote child safety and wellbeing, empower, and prevent harm to children and young people. It will work towards an environment where children and young people feel safe and are safe, have their voices heard, and are involved in the decisions that affect their lives.

View the Signed Statement of Commitment