Core functions

The Child Safety Commissioner works with organisations and groups throughout Victoria to improve child safety. Business and community organisations are encouraged to ensure that the children with whom they come into contact are able to play, learn, work and access services safely. In addition, children are invited and encouraged to have their say about what safety means to them.

The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner (OCSC) undertakes research, policy development and resource development that is informed by consultation with government and community stakeholders, including children, and reference to contemporary policy frameworks. Making this information available to culturally and linguistically diverse communities is a priority for the OCSC.

• A range of publications have been produced to assist parents in their wise choice of a suitable babysitter, service or activity for their child
• A manual has been designed to assist business and community organisations to become child-safe. It includes guidance on 'how to develop a child-safe policy and code of conduct for those who work or volunteer with children in their organisation'. The OCSC's own child-safe policy is available online as an example for other organisations to consider.

The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner promotes its own contemporary research and policies, and that of other agencies and organisations, as part of keeping the community informed on a routine basis through this web-site.

The Child Safety Commissioner provides public comment on issues pertaining to the safety of children.

The Child Safety Commissioner also provides independent advice to the Minister for Children on matters relevant to the safety of Victoria’s children.

See also: Child safety publication series

The Child Safety Commissioner and the staff of his office actively advocate on behalf of all of Victoria’s children. The office will work in collaboration with all people of good will to promote the best interests of children to help every child reach her/his full potential.

The current life situations of some of Victoria’s children require special consideration. The Child Safety Commissioner gives particular attention to children who are removed from their families and placed in the care of the state. These children are especially vulnerable. The Child Safety Commissioner has an important role to ensure the state acts as a good parent to these children while they live in public care.

The office monitors the performance of out-of-home care services delivered by the Department of Human Services and by contracted community service organizations to children in the care of the state. By listening to children about their direct experiences of out-of-home care and adopting an applied research approach to how these services are provided the Child Safety Commissioner enhances the delivery of high quality services.

Enhancing practice enhances the safety and well-being of children placed in care. Analysis of critical incidents occurring within the out-of-home care system provides opportunity to gain systemic insight into the type of adverse events that can occur and as a result the safety of all children in public care can be strengthened.

See also: Children in care share their views...

The committee considers the findings of the inquiry and, where appropriate, makes recommendations to the Minister in regard to matters of a thematic policy and practice nature. The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner provides secretariate functions and support to the committee.

The Minister for Community Services can also request the Child Safety Commissioner to conduct inquiries into a matter that concerns the out-of-home care system or into other matters relevant to the safety of a child. The purpose of these inquiries is to bring an independent and systemic approach to the operational and practice areas of service delivery. The findings and the recommendations of these inquiries are forwarded to the Minister for Community Services and to the Secretary Department of Human Services for consideration and, where evidence supports the need for new approaches, for implementation.

The Working with Children Act commenced on 1 July 2006, and its application is being phased in over a period of five years for different sectors of the community.

The Child Safety Commissioner is required to review the administration of the Working with Children Act 2005:

• Every year the Commissioner conducts an independent review of the Working with Children Check system administered by the Department of Justice.
  
• Within three months of the end of each financial year, the Commissioner provides an annual report to the Minister for Children, the Attorney-General and the Secretary of the Department of Justice on that department’s administration of the Working with Children Check system.

The Child Safety Commissioner is also required to promote, educate and inform the community about the Working with Children Check system.

• Through the delivery of an extensive program of community education, the Commissioner works to educate the community and business about a broad range of strategies to provide child-safe environments, including Working With Children Checks.
  
• Other strategies include business and community organisations being encouraged to develop and implement their own child safe organisation policy and code of conduct, for those in their organisation who work or volunteer with children.