About us

page content: org chart | establishing the office | the commissioner | our role | complaints

Establishment of the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner

In December 2004 the Premier announced the creation of a new role of Child Safety Commissioner, to provide a strong and independent voice for children, to promote their safety and wellbeing and to provide advice to the Minister for Children.

The legislative functions and powers of the Child Safety Commissioner are enshrined in the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 which came into effect on 1 June 2006 .

see also -> Core functions

The Child Safety Commissioner, Bernie Geary OAM

In May 2005 the Minister for Children appointed Mr Bernie Geary OAM as Victoria’s inaugural Child Safety Commissioner. Bernie is widely known and respected for his 30-plus years of working with vulnerable children, young people and their families. This includes being Victoria’s first outreach youth worker and serving on the Victorian Youth Parole Board for 17 years.

Since his appointment Bernie has been busy consulting with the community, promoting child safety, developing key policy initiatives and initiating projects that focus on the best interests of children.

Our role:

The Office brings together twenty experienced and committed staff who aim to be at the forefront of activity to protect Victoria’s children.

“We are always keen to identify the views of children through consultation at events, forums and workshops for young people, parents, professionals and the broader community.”

There are three major streams in the office:

Out of Home Care Monitoring Unit

Inquiry and Review Unit

• "We conduct inquiries into the deaths of children and young people known to the Child Protection service system. We also undertake inquiries into other matters referred by the Minister for Children."
• "We monitor serious incidents which involve children placed in out-of-home care . "
• "We provide a secretariate service to support and coordinate the functions of the Victorian Child Death Review Committee (VCDRC). The VCDRC reviews all child death inquiries conducted by the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner and reports to the Minister for Children."

Promotion and Policy Unit

• “We work with the community and business to promote child-safe environments in organisations that engage people to volunteer or work with children.”
  
• “Every year we conduct a review of the Working with Children Check system and also work to educate and inform the community about the Working with Children Act 2005.”
  

Complaints

The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner does not, as a matter of course, investigate complaints or concerns brought by individual persons or organisations. It does not duplicate existing complaint, review or appeal mechanisms available within government or non-government organisations.

The Office has an ongoing interest in the effectiveness of complaint management processes. Themes and information that emerge from these processes can assist the Office identify priorities and strategies that will contribute to improving the safety and wellbeing of all Victorian children, particularly the most vulnerable.